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MANUAL 


FOR 


MISSIO^IARY  CANDIDATES 


OF  THE 


AMERICAN  BOARD  OF  COMMISSIONERS 


FOR 


FOREIGN  MISSIONS. 


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MANUAL 


FOIt 


MISSIONARY  CANDIDATES 


OF  THE 


AMERICAN  BOARD  OF  COMMISSIONERS 


FOR 


FOREIGN  MISSIONS. 


BOSTON: 

PRESS  OF  CROCKER  AND  BREWSTER, 

47,  Washington-street. 

1845. 


Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 
in  2018  with  funding  from 
Columbia  University  Libraries 


https://archive.org/details/manualformissionOOamer 


MANUAL 


FOK 

MISSIONARY  CANDIDATES. 


This  pamphlet  is  intended  to  serve  as  a  manual  for 
candidates  for  employment  as  missionaries  under  the 
direction  of  the  American  Board  of  Commissioners  for 
•Foreign  Missions.  It  will  be  sent  to  such,  as  soon  as 
they  become  known  to  the  Prudential  Committee  by 
their  offers  of  service,  and  when  requested,  to  'any 
persons  who  contemplate  becoming  connected  with 
the  Board  ;  and  will  serve  instead  of  many  written  and 
verbal  answers  to  inquiries,  which  must  otherwise  be 
proposed  to  the  Secretaries  or  Treasurer.  It  will  ever 
be  presumed,  that  the  candidate  has  made  himself  ac¬ 
quainted  with  the  contents  of  these  pages,  and  that 
nothing  need  be  repeated  to  him  which  is  here  con¬ 
tained. 

1.  The  Various  Descriptions  of  Missionary  Laborers. 

1.  Ordained  ministers  of  the  Gospel.  These  are 
called  missionaries.  All  others,  whether  licensed 
preachers,  physicians,  teachers,  printers,  etc.,  are  assist¬ 
ant  missionaries,  but,  in  the  Reports  of  the  Board,  are 
generally  designated  by  their  specific  occupations. 

2.  Physicians. 

3.  Teachers. 

4.  Secular  superintendents,  in  a  few  of  the  mis¬ 
sions. 


4 


5.  Printers  and  book -binders,  in  some  of  the  mis¬ 
sions. 

6.  Farmers  and  other  secular  laborers,  in  some  of 
the  Indian  missions. 

7.  Unmarried  female  teachers ;  rarely,  however, 
except  where  they  can  have  homes  in  the  families  of 
relatives,  or  in  families  where  there  has  been  the  tie 
of  long  intimacy  and  personal  friendship. 

II.  Time  of  deciding  whether  to  become  a  Mis¬ 
sionary  to  the  Heathen. 

This  question,  whenever  decided,  should  be  in  view 
of  existing  circumstances  ;  in  other  words,  in  view  of 
the  providence  of  God  as  now  perceived  and  under¬ 
stood.  It  should  be  with  an  humble  reference  to  the 
divine  pleasure.  “  If  the  Lord  will,  we  shall  live,  and 
do  this  or  that.”  The  reasons  in  favor  of  an  early  de¬ 
cision  are  briefly  these : 

1.  In  colleges,  and  sometimes  in  the  academy,  the 
student  may  enjoy  nearly  or  quite  all  the  helps  in 
forming  a  decision,  that  he  will  find  in  the  theological 
seminary ;  and  frequently  he  is  old  enough,  and  his 
judgment  mature  enough,  even  in  the  early  stage  of 
his  education,  to  decide  this  or  any  other  question  of 
personal  duty. 

2.  An  early  decision,  of  the  nature  proposed,  is  de¬ 
sirable  in  reference  to  its  bearing  on  the  mind  and 
conscience  of  the  student. 

3.  A  student  who  decides  early  to  devote  himself 
to  the  cause  of  foreign  missions,  will  be  more  useful 
to  that  cause  during  his  studies  preparatory  to  the 
ministry,  than  he  otherwise  could  be. 

4.  An  early  decision  in  favor  of  becoming  a  mis¬ 
sionary  to  the  heathen,  makes  a  man  more  courageous 
and  cheerful  after  he  has  entered  the  field  of  missions, 
and  probably  will  render  Ifim  more  efficient  and  useful 
as  a  missionary. 

5.  An  early  and  serious  consideration  of  this  sub¬ 
ject,  with  a  view  to  a  speedy  decision,  either  that  it  is 
or  is  not  our  duty  to  become  missionaries,  with  an  oc- 


5 


casional  reconsideration  of  the  subject,  is  the  most 
likely  way  of  avoiding  mistakes  in  regard  to  our  proper 
sphere  of  labor. 

It  may  be  added  that  an  early  decision  to  be  a  mis¬ 
sionary  will  be  no  disadvantage  to  a  man  who  is  provi¬ 
dentially  prevented  from  becoming  one. 

When  a  decision  is  formed  to  become  a  missionary, 
the  proper  course  to  pursue  in  relation  to  it  is,  neither 
to  take  pains  to  conceal  it  nor  to  make  it  known.  If 
a  man  is  under  the  guidance  of  humble  benevolence, 
with  his  selfish  desires  subdued  by  love  to  Christ  and 
to  souls  redeemed  by  the  blood  of  Christ,  he  will  be  in 
little  danger  of  ostentation,  and  need  not  fear  the  con¬ 
sequences  of  having  it  known  that  he  is  aspiring  to 
the  missionary  office,  even  should  he  afterwards  find 
that  his  duty  requires  him  to  remain  at  home.  A  sin¬ 
cere  regard  for  duty,  and  a  resolute  pursuit  of  it,  are 
far  less  apt  to  be  injurious  to  a  man’s  usefulness,  than 
is  a  timorous  shrinking  from  responsibility  when  duty 
calls. 

III.  Qualijications  of  Missionaries  and  Assistant  Mis¬ 
sionaries. 

Of  these  some  are  indispensable  for  all  candidates 
for  the  missionary  work,  whatever  may  be  the  de¬ 
partment  in  which  they  desire  to  be  employed  ;  others 
are  especially  requisite  in  each  of  the  several  depart¬ 
ments  of  that  work.  A  brief  enumeration  of  the  most 
important  qualifications  of  each  kind  is  all  that  will  be 
attempted  here. 

Of  the  first  class,  are 

1.  Decided,  enlightened,  uniform  piety;  compre¬ 
hending  correct  views  of  the  great  doctrines  and  duties 
of  Christianity ;  strong  love  to  Christ,  and  to  the  souls 
of  men ;  and  corresponding  consistent  habits  in  the 
candidate’s  daily  walk  with  God,  in  the  duties  of  the 
closet,  and  in  his  conversation  and  conduct  in  his  in¬ 
tercourse  with  Christian  brethren,  and  before  the 
world.  , 


1* 


6 


2.  A  full  conviction  of  the  duty  of  going  in  person 
to  the  heathen,  with  a  strong  love  for  the  work  of  mis¬ 
sions  ;  that  he  may  be  fitted  to  encounter  the  ex¬ 
posures,  hardships,  and  discouragements  incident  to 
the  missionary  life. 

3.  Good  common  sense,  a  sound  judgment,  and  a 
quick,  discernment  and  good  knowledge  of  human 
character. 

4.  An  amiable  disposition,  including  kindness,  gen¬ 
tleness,  forbearance,  frankness,  and  an  habitual  desire 
to  accommodate  others,  and  render  them  happy  and 
itseful. 

5.  Steadiness  and  firmness  of  character,  with  pa¬ 
tience,  perseverance,  and  cheerfulness. 

6.  Industry,  economy,  and  the  habit  of  attending 
faithfully,  punctually,  and  thoroughly  to  whatever  busi¬ 
ness  he  undertakes. 

7.  Good  bodily  health,  and  the  prospect  of  enjoying 
it  in  the  field  of  labor  which  he  desires  to  occupy. 

8.  Good  intellectual  abilities  ;  with  a  mind  trained 
to  use  its  powers  to  the  best  advantage,  and  well  fur¬ 
nished  with  useful  knowledge.  Menial  powers  and 
attainments  of  the  highest  order,  will  find  ample  scope 
in  the  missionary  work.  And  ordinarily  no  one  who 
does  not  rise  to  a  respectable  mediocrity,  in  these  par¬ 
ticulars,  ought  to  think  of  going  on  a  foreign  mission. 
Readiness  in  acquiring  languages  is  especially  impor¬ 
tant  in  most  missions. 

9.  The  desire  and  habit  of  self-improvement. 

10.  A  willingness  to  labor  in  any  department,  when 
called  to  it,  and  an  unfeigned  humility. 

11.  It  is  important  that  the  candidate  for  mission¬ 
ary  employment  should  sustain  a  fair  character  among 
those  who  know  him.  Any  gross  neglect  or  deficiency 
in  duty,  any  transaction  in  which  he  has  been  engaged, 
that  has  fixed  a  stain  upon  his  character,  and  brought 
him  under  suspicion,  is  to  be  regarded  as  a  disqualifi¬ 
cation,  and  might,  if  he  should  enter  the  missionary 
service,  bring  much  reproach  upon  the  cause.  His 
standing  should  be  such,  that  when  his  intention  is 
announced,  the  common,  spontaneous  sentiment  of 
those  who  know  him  will  be,  that  he  is  well  quali¬ 
fied  for  the  work. 


7 


As  to  the  second  class  of  qualifications,  viz.  special 
fitness  for  a  particular  department  of  labor ; — 

A  preacher  of  the  gosjiel  should  have  made  such  at¬ 
tainments  in  all  the  branches  of  theological  learning, 
as  would  give  him  a  respectable  standing  among  the 
pastors  of  our  churches.  He  should  love  the  work  of 
preaching,  and  be  devoted  to  it  as  the  great  business 
of  his  life. 

A  missionary  physician  should  have  what  would  in 
this  country  be  esteemed  a  competent  medical  educa¬ 
tion  ;  and  he  should  be  prepared  to  make  his  profess¬ 
ional  knowledge  and  skill  all  directly  subservient  to 
the  furtherance  of  the  gospel..  It  is  important  that  he 
should  be  well  acquainted  with  the  natural  sciences, 
and  especially  that  he  should  be  well  read  on  the 
great  leading  topics  of  Christian  theology. 

A  teacher  should  be  qualified  to  teach  and  govern  a 
respectable  village  school  with  acceptance.  His  love 
for  teaching  should  be  such,  that  he  can  cheerfully 
adopt  it  as  the  business  of  his  life. 

Mechanics  and  farmers  should  of  course  be  masters 
of  the  business  of  their  respective  departments,  and 
fully  resolved  to  make  all  their  labors  subservient  to 
the  great  object  of  the  mission. 

The  foregoing  qualifications  are  requisite  in  females, 
whether  married  or  unmarried,  who  go  out  as  assistant 
missionaries,  so  far  as  they  arc  applicable  to  their 
sphere  of  labor  and  their  peculiar  circumstances. 

In  all  ordinary  cases,  it  is  expected  that  those  who 
enter  on  missionary  service  will  do  it  with  the  expecta¬ 
tion  of  continuing  in  it  through  life. 

IV.  Time  and  manner  of  application  to  the  Prudential 
Committee  for  an  appointment. 

If  the  candidate  be  in  a  theological  seminary,  the 
proper  time  for  him  to  make  his  offer  of  service  to  the 
Board  is  at  or  near  the  commencement  of  his  senior 
year.  In  other  cases,  it  is  desirable  that  the  offer 
should  be  made  not  less  than  six  months  before  the 
candidate  expects  to  complete  his  preparation  for  the 
work. 


8 


The  offer  should  be  written,  and  should  be  address¬ 
ed  to  the  Secretary  for  the  home  correspondence,  or  to 
the  Secretaries.  The  candidate  should  give  a  brief 
history  of  himself,  as  to  his  age,  residence,  early  edu¬ 
cation,  habits,  and  employments,  his  religious  expe¬ 
rience,  his  views  and  motives  in  desiring  the  mission¬ 
ary  work,  the  department  of  labor  in  which  he  wishes 
to  engage,  and  the  field  he  prefers,  if  he  has  any  pre¬ 
ference,  with  the  reasons  of  his  preference.  He 
should  state  particularly  whether  he  has  a  sound  con¬ 
stitution  and  enjoys  good  general  health,  or  the  con¬ 
trary  ;  whether  any  thing  in  the  state  of  his  health  in¬ 
dicates  that  he  ought  to  seek  in  his  field  of  labor  a 
climate  specially  adapted  to  it ;  whether  he  is  in  debt, 
or  expects  to  be  so  when  his  studies  are  completed  ; 
whether  he  expects  to  go  as  a  married  or  single  man ; 
and  in  short  any  particulars  respecting  himself,  which 
he  thinks  the  Committee  ought  to  know  in  acting 
upon  his  offer  of  service.  This  paper,  while  it  should 
be  as  brief  as  circumstances  will  permit,  should  be 
drawn  up  with  great  frankness  on  the  part  of  the  can¬ 
didate.  He  may  expect  the  Secretaries  to  use  a  cor¬ 
responding  frankness  toward  him.  No  candidate 
should  feel  himself  to  be  unkindly  treated,  if  told  that 
his  prospect  of  usefulness  in  the  missionary  work  will 
not  justify  his  being  sent  forth.  Nor  ought  he  to  re¬ 
gard  such  a  reply  as  dictated  by  any  other  motives 
than  a  regard  to  his  highest  usefulness,  and  to  the  best 
interests  of  the  cause  of  Christ. 

It  is  usual  for  the  offer  of  those,  who  are  to  go  as 
the  wives  of  missionaries,  to  be  made  through  their 
intended  husbands. 

V.  Testimonials  of  Candidates. 

The  Committee  regard  it  as  solemnly  incumbent  on 
them,  before  appointing  any  person  a  missionary,  or 
assistant  missionary  of  the  Board,  to  obtain  as  thorough 
a  knowledge  as  possible  of  his  character  and  qualifica¬ 
tions  for  the  work  to  which  he  aspires.  For  this  rea¬ 
son  a  personal  acquaintance  Avith  him  is  sought  in  all 
cases  where  it  is  possible.  In  the  first  instance,  how- 


9 


ever,  written  testimonials  are  collected  and  sent  on  by 
the  candidate.  They  should  relate, 

1.  To  his  Christian  character  and  his  good  standing 
as  a  church  member. 

2.  To  his  natural  talents  and  temper. 

3.  To  his  judgment,  discretion,  and  common  sense. 

4.  To  his  literary  and  theological  attainments,  or 
his  professional  or  mechanical  ability  and  skill,  accord¬ 
ing  to  the  department  in  which  he  wishes  to  labor. 

5.  To  his  diligence  in  the  improvement  of  time, 
and  of  opportunities  of  usefulness. 

6.  To  his  capacity  for  acquiring  influence  over 
those  with  whom  he  associates,  and  his  fidelity  and 
skill  in  using  his  influence  for  their  good. 

7.  To  his  personal  appearance,  manners  and  ad¬ 
dress. 

8.  To  any  peculiarities  of  character,  habits,  or  con¬ 
stitution,  indicating  special  fitness  or  unfitness  for  any 
particular  field  or  department  of  missionary  labor. 

9.  To  his  general  character  and  standing. 

The  proper  persons  to  furnish  these  testimonials  are, 

1.  The  pastor,  or,  if  there  is  no  pastor,  the  deacons 
or  elders  of  the  church  to  which  the  candidate  belongs, 
or  where  he  has  been  in  the  habit  of  attending  public 
worship,  and  is  best  known  since  he  made  a  profession 
of  religion. 

2.  His  principal  teacher  or  teachers  in  his  literary 
course.  If  he  is  a  graduate,  the  president  or  professors 
of  the  college  that  gave  him  his  degree. 

3.  If  he  ofiers  to  go  as  an  ordained  missionary,  the 
professors  of  the  seminary  where  he  pursued  his  theo¬ 
logical  studies  ;  or  if  he  studied  privately,  the  minister 
under  whose  direction  he  studied.  He  should  present 
also  the  ordinary  testimonials  from  the  ecclesiastical 
body  by  which  he  was  licensed  or  ordained.  If  he  is 
a  physician  or  a  teacher,  the  persons  with  whom  he 
pursued  his  professional  studies  should  give  him  testi¬ 
monials  in  regard  to  his  proficiency  in  them. 

4.  It  is  desirable  that  one  or  more  judicious  Chris¬ 
tians,  besides  his  pastor,  either  ministers  or  laymen, 


10 


who  are  well  acquainted  with  the  candidate,  should 
give  freely  their  opinion  of  his  fitness  for  the  work. 
In  the  case  of  a  female,  an  intelligent  and  pious 
woman  in  whose  family  she  has  resided,  or  who  has 
otherwise  become  well  acquainted  with  her,  may  give 
much  valuable  information. 

The  more  full,  minute,  and  explicit  these  testimo¬ 
nials  are,  the  better.  They  should  be  sealed  by  the 
writers,  and  addressed  to  the  Secretary  for  the  home 
correspondence,  or  to  the  Secretaries  of  the  Board. 

When  these  testimonials  have  been  laid  before  the 
Committee,  if  they  be  such  as  to  encourage  a  farther 
acquaintance,  the  candidate,  if  not  a  female,  will  ordi¬ 
narily  be  invited  to  visit  the  Missionary  House,  in 
Boston,  previous  to  any  final  action  on  the  case. 

VI.  Qiiestions  to  Missionary  Candidates. 

Missionary  candidates  are  requested  carefully  to 
consider  the  questions  which  follow,  and  be  prepared 
to  answer  them  in  their  offer  of  service,  or  in  the  inter¬ 
views  which  they  may  subsequently  have  with  the 
Prudential  Committee  or  the  Secretaries. 

1.  What,  in  your  view,  are  the  leading  doctrines 
and  precepts  of  the  Scriptures  ? 

2.  Have  you  doubts  respecting  the  doctrines  com¬ 
monly  held  by  the  churches  sustaining  the  missions 
under  the  care  of  the  Board  ?  or  any  views  relating  to 
church  organization  and  government,  which  would 
prevent  your  cordially  recognizing  and  co-operating 
with,  as  ministers  of  Christ,  the  missionaries  employed 
by  the  Board  ? 

3.  M^hat  are  your  views  of  religion  as  a  matter  of 
experience  ;  and  of  the  work  of  the  Holy  Spirit  on  the 
heart  ?  And  what  leads  you  to  think  that  you  are  a 
Christian  experimentally,  and  by  the  renewal  of  the 
Spirit  ? 

4.  How  long  have  you  been  in  the  church ;  and 
what  have  been  your  habits  of  feeling  and  acting  as  a 
Christian  ? 

5.  In  what  view  does  it  seem  to  you  to  be  impor¬ 
tant  that  the  gospel  should  be  preached  to  the  hea- 


11 


then ;  and  on  what  grounds  are  Christians  under  obli¬ 
gations  to  send  it  to  them  ? 

6.  What  are  your  views  of  duty  as  a  preacher  of 
the  gospel  ?  What  leads  you  to  desire  the  missionary 
employment  ?  And  what  is  the  manner  of  life  you 
propose  to  yourself  as  a  missionary  ? 

7.  How  do  you  regard  hardship,  suffering,  and  peril 
incurred  in  prosecuting  the  missionary  work  ;  and  to 
what  extent  are  you  taking  them  into  account  and 
preparing  yourself  to  encounter  them  ? 

8.  What  are  your  views  and  your  purpose  relative 
to  entering  for  life  into  the  missionary  work  ? 

9.  What  is  your  age  ?  What  is  your  native  place  ? 
Where  has  been  your  residence  ?  And  in  what  busi¬ 
ness  and  employments  have  you  been  engaged  ? 

10.  What  course  of  education  have  you  pursued; 
and  what  knowledge  have  you  of  the  Latin,  Greek,  or 
Hebrew  language  ;  or  of  any  living  foreign  language  ? 
Do  you  acquire  languages  with  facility  ? 

11.  What  is  the  state  of  your  health?  Are  you 
aware  of  being  now  or  of  having  been  subject  to  any 
bodily  ailment  or  infirmity  ?  Are  your  habits  seden¬ 
tary  or  active  ? 

12.  Are  any  relatives  so  dependent  on  you,  or  like¬ 
ly  to  become  so,  that  you  are  under  obligations  to 
make  provision  for  their  support  ? 

13.  Are  you  under  engagements,  express  or  im¬ 
plied,  with  a  view  to  marriage  ?  And  if  so,  does  your 
intended  wife  enter  fully  into  your  views  and  feelings 
with  regard  to  the  missionary  work  ?  Has  she  a  good 
constitution  and  good  health  ? 

14.  Is  there  any  thing  in  the  organization  or  rules 
of  the  Board,  or  in  the  organization  or  manner  of  con¬ 
ducting  the  missions,  which  you  disapprove  ;  or  which 
would  prevent  your  laboring  happily  in  connection 
with  the  Board,  and  in  conformity  with  its  regulations 
and  those  of  the  missions 


*  The  constitution,  laws,  aud  regulations  of  the  Board  are  appended  to  this 
Manual.  • 


12 


VII.  Appointment,  and  consequences  of  the  relation 

thus  created. 

The  appointment  and  the  designation  are  two  dis¬ 
tinct  things.  They  need  not  be  decided  at  the  same 
time,  and  often  are  not.  The  first  will  be  decided  as 
soon  as  possible  after  the  necessary  papers  are  com¬ 
plete  ;  and  the  second  as  soon  after  that  as  circum¬ 
stances  will  permit. 

Candidates  who  have  received  their  appointment, 
cannot  begin  to  draw  upon  the  Board  for  their  ex¬ 
penses,  until  they  actually  and  by  direction  of  the 
Committee  enter  its  service.  The  Board  does  not  pay 
the  debts  of  missionaries  contracted  before  their  ap¬ 
pointment,  nor  those  which  they  contract  afterwards 
without  being  previously  authorized  by  the  Commit¬ 
tee.  It  is  a  standing  usage  not  to  pay  any  part  of  the 
expenses  incurred  in  the  regular  preparatory  course  of 
study  for  their  profession,  as  preachers,  physicians, 
teachers,  printers,  etc.  If  extra  studies  are  attended 
to,  in  conformity  with  the  direction  of  the  Committee, 
the  expenses  thus  incurred  are  paid,  if  necessary,  by 
the  Board.  No  candidate  should  visit  the  Committee 
or  Secretaries,  expecting  the  Board  to  pay  his  travel¬ 
ling  expenses,  unless  he  has  been  expressly  requested 
so  to  do  ;  nor  should  he,  after  his  appointment,  pursue 
any  course  involving  expense  on  the  part  of  the  Board, 
unless  expressly  authorized  to  do  it. 

Specific  and  fixed  salaries  are  given  in  many  of  the 
missions.  In  the  others  the  actual  expenses  of  the 
missionaries  are  paid,  of  which  semi-annual  or  annual 
accounts  are  rendered  by  the  missionaries  to  the 
Treasurer  of  the  Board.  A  limit,  however,  is  now  as¬ 
signed  to  the  aggregate  expenses  of  each  mission,  and 
an  approximation  is  constantly  making  towards  fixed 
salaries  in  all  the  missions,  as  the  more  economical 
and  satisfactory  method  ;  but  nothing  will  be  gained 
in  the  end  by  feing  the  salaries  too  soon. 

The  laws  and  regulations  of  the  Board  relating 
to  missionaries  and  their  widoVvs  and  children,  are 
appended  to  this  Manual. 


13 


The  candidate’s  ecclesiastical  relations  to  his  relig¬ 
ions  denomination,  whatever  it  may  be,  are  not  affect¬ 
ed  by  his  appointment.  The  Board  is  not  an  eccle¬ 
siastical  body.  So  far  as  its  constitution  is  concerned, 
it  can  act  for  any  evangelical  denomination,  and  it  is 
now  acting,  with  equal  ease  and  freedom,  for  four  or 
five.  If  the  candidate  is  a  Congregationalist,  or  Pres¬ 
byterian,  he  remains  such,  if  he  chooses  to  do  so.  And 
he  is  as  free  as  he  ever  was,  or  can  be,  to  act  in  mat¬ 
ters  ecclesiastical.  Yet  his  denomination  has  by  no 
means  a  right  to  claim,  that  he  should  go  forth  for  the 
purpose  of  extending  that  denomination  among  the  hea¬ 
then.  At  the  same  time,  it  is  by  no  means  intended 
that  the  points  of  difference  in  these  several  denomi¬ 
nations  are  unimportant.  But  it  is  a  glorious  fact, 
that  the  points  which  constitute  emphatically  the 
message  of  missionaries  to  the  heathen,  are  those 
in  which  these  evangelical  denominations  do  mainly 
agree. 

Upon  being  appointed  a  missionary  of  the  Board,  a 
new  relation  and  certain  mutual  obligations  are  cre¬ 
ated,  which  cannot  ordinarily  be  dissolved  by  the  mere 
pleasure  of  either  party.  The  guaranty  that  the  au¬ 
thority  invested  in  the  directing  agency  will  not  be 
abused  on  the  one  hand,  nor  the  missionaries,  on  the 
other,  take  undue  advantage  of  this  relation,  is  to  be 
found,  if  any  where,  in  the  character  of  the  parties. 

And  the  fact  should  never  be  lost  sight  of,  that  the 
Board  and  its  Committee  and  officers  have  identically  the 
same  object  in  view  and  the  same  interest  with  their  mis¬ 
sionaries.  Their  object  and  their  interest  are  nothing 
else,  than  to  render  all  the  missions  and  missionaries 
in  connection  with  the  Board  as  useful  as  possible. 
To  this  they  are  urged  by  every  motive.  This  is  their 
study,  their  aim,  their  constant  endeavor.  The  mis¬ 
sionaries  are  not  one  party,  in  the  sense  of  having  dif¬ 
ferent  interests,  and  the  Board  another ;  but  all  are 
one,  in  object,  pursuit,  interest,  and  feeling. — There 
may,  indeed,  be  differences  of  opinion,  for  a  time,  as  to 
the  best  means  of  accomplishing  the  common  object ; 
occasionally  there  have  been  such  differences;  but 
2 


14 


they  have  been  transient,  and  must  be  so,  as  long  as 
missionaries  and  their  directors  are  honestly  pursuing 
the  same  great  object. 

There  is  another  fact  in  this  connection  of  no  small 
importance ;  which  is,  that  the  Board  and  its  Commit¬ 
tee  and  officers  sustain  a  common  and  equal  relation  to 
all  the  missions  and  missionaries.  Their  position  is 
central,  with  regard  to  all ;  they  correspond  with  all ; 
they  know  the  condition  and  claims  of  all ;  and  while 
they  know  the  amount  of  means  placed  at  their  dis¬ 
posal  by  the  Christian  public  better  than  the  mission¬ 
aries  can  know  it,  they  are  bound  to  see  that  the 
claims  of  all  are  impartially  attended  to  in  the  distri¬ 
bution  of  those  means.  The  brethren  in  each  of  the 
missions  may  understand  the  circumstances,  necessi¬ 
ties,  and  intrinsic  merits  of  their  own  missions,  better 
than  the  Prudential  Committee.  But  they  do  not  and 
cannot  know  so  well  the  slate  of  the  other  missions. 
They  cannot  judge  so  well  of  the  relative  claims  of 
the  several  missions.  They  cannot  know  so  well  the 
general  bearings  of  particular  measures.  Differences 
of  opinion,  when  they  have  arisen,  have  generally 
been  from  the  difference  in  the  points  of  observation 
and  in  the  range  of  vision.  At  the  same  time  the 
more  perfect  local  knowledge  and  the  opinions  formed 
by  missionaries  upon  facts  under  their  personal  obser¬ 
vation,  will  ever  and  must  ever  have  much  influence 
in  the  deliberations  of  the  Committee. 

VIII.  Designation. 

Candidates  for  missionary  labor  should  not  be  un¬ 
duly  anxious  respecting  their  field  of  labor.  Some 
countries  possess  attractions  for  men  of  peculiar  tastes 
and  habits  above  others  ;  but  the  grand  attraction  by 
which  the  missionary  should  feel  himself  drawn  to¬ 
wards  any  country  or  tribe,  is  the  opportunity  afforded 
him  for  preaching  Christ  where  he  has  not  before 
been  named,  and  of  exerting  his  agency  to  save  the 
miserable  and  perishing.  This  he  will  find  common 
to  all  the  fields.  Still  it  is  to  be  admitted  that  intel¬ 
lectual  abilities  and  attainments,  habits,  bodily  con- 


15 


stitution,  and  health,  and  perhaps  other  circumstances, 
may  render  it  expedient  that  a  missionary  should  oc¬ 
cupy  one  field  rather  than  another.  Too  much  re¬ 
gard,  however,  should  not  be  had  to  these  things. 
Ardent  piety  and  good  sense,  with  the  divine  aid  and 
blessing,  will  enable  a  man  to  accommodate  himself 
to  almost  any  circumstances,  so  far  as  is  requisite  for 
the  successful  performance  of  missionary  labor.  There 
is  much  less  ground  for  preference  among  the  various 
fields  of  labor,  on  the  whole,  than  is  commonly  sup¬ 
posed.  Every  candidate  should  bear  in  mind  also, 
that  his  judicious  Christian  friends  and  the  Committee 
may  be  better  able  to  judge  than  himself,  respecting  his 
suitableness  for  a  particular  field,  and  that  they  can¬ 
not  be  supposed  to  desire  him  to  go  to  any  field, 
where,  on  the  whole,  they  do  not  think  that  his  labors 
are  most  demanded  and  can  be  most  usefully  applied. 
Still,  every  candidate  should  be  frank  on  this  subject, 
and  may  feel  assured  that  the  Coiumittee  do  not  de¬ 
sire  him  to  go  to  any  field  where  he  cannot  go  cheer¬ 
fully,  and  where  he  cannot  be  convinced  that  it  is  best 
for  him  to  go. 

Before  the  designation  is  made,  the  correspondence 
of  the  candidates  is  with  the  Secretary  for  the  home 
correspondence.  Afterwards,  if  the  designation  be  to 
the  Indians,  it  is  with  the  Secretary  having  charge  of 
the  correspondence  with  Indian  missions.  If  to  mis¬ 
sions  beyond  sea,  it  is  with  the  Secretary  having 
charge  of  the  correspondence  with  those  missions. 

IX.  Studies. 

It  is  not  deemed  expedient  by  the  Committee,  nor 
by  missionaries  already  among  the  heathen,  that  the 
regular  course  of  preparatory  or  theological  studies 
should  be  neglected  or  curtailed,  with  a  view  to  pros¬ 
ecuting  studies  more  especially  adapted  to  some  con¬ 
templated  field  of  missionary  service.  The  furnish¬ 
ing  and  disciplining  of  the  mind,  effected  by  the  or¬ 
dinary  course  of  education,  is  certainly  not  less  im¬ 
portant  for  the  preacher  abroad,  than  for  the  pastor  at 
home  ;  while  the  peculiar  preparation  required  for  a 


16 


missionary  in  a  particular  country,  may  generally  be 
much  more  advantageously  made  in  that  country  than 
at  home.  Or,  it  may  be  attended  to  after  completing 
the  regidar  and  usual  course  of  study,  by  remaining  a 
few  months  or  a  year  for  the  purpose. 

The  experience  of  the  Committee  leads  them  to 
question  the  expediency,  in  ordinary  cases,  of  an  or¬ 
dained  missionary’s  taking  the  time  necessary  to  at¬ 
tend  medical  lectures.  Nor  would  they  ordinarily  en¬ 
courage  a  physician  to  delay  his  dejiarture,  that  he 
may  pursue  the  study  of  theology,  unless  his  age,  etc. 
are  such  that  he  can  go  through  a  complete  course. 
Nor  do  the  Committee  know  of  any  circumstances  in 
which  it  will  be  advisable  for  an  accepted  missionary 
or  physician  to  visit  any  foreign  country  for  the  sake 
of  pursuing  study  there  previous  to  entering  his  field 
of  labor. 


X.  Agencies. 

Where  a  missionary  has  the  talents  requisite  for 
performing  an  acceptable  and  useful  agency  among 
the  churches,  that  service,  for  a  number  of  months 
before  entering  on  his  mission,  would  ordinarily  be 
found  very  useful ; — by  extending  his  acquaintance 
with  mankind  and  with  his  patrons ;  by  cultivating  his 
power  of  exerting  influence ;  by  increasing  his  famil¬ 
iarity  with  the  prineiples  and  motives  on  which  the 
missionary  enterprise  depends  for  its  successful  prose¬ 
cution;  and  by  giving  him  a  deeper  insight,  than  he 
could  otherwise  obtain,  into  the  peculiar  difficulties 
which  arc  to  be  encountered  and  obviated  in  raising 
funds  for  missions  to  the  heathen.  Occasionally, 
when  the  funds  are  low  in  tire  treasury,  it  may  be 
very  necessary  for  such  candidates  to  perform  a  tem¬ 
porary  agency  before  leaving  the  country.  A  consid¬ 
erable  part  of  the  early  missionaries  of  the  Board  la¬ 
bored  some  time  as  agents,  and  generally  with  very 
evident  advantage  in  all  the  respects  just  mentioned. 
The  change  of  late  years  in  the  nature  of  the  agency 
employed  for  raising  funds,  and  the  appointment  of 
permanent  general  agents,  have  combined  with  other 


17 


causes  to  prevent,  in  great  measure,  and  perhaps  too 
much,  the  employment  of  missionaries  previous  to  en¬ 
tering  their  field  of  labor  abroad. 

XI.  Debts. 

It  has  been  already  stated  that  the  Board  does  not 
pay  the  debts  of  those  who  receive  appointments  as 
missionaries.  Missionary  candidates  will,  of  course, 
be  allowed  the  time  and  opportunity  required  for  liqui¬ 
dating  their  debts  before  going  to  their  several  mis- 
sions  i  and  they  should  be  scrupulously  careful  to  see 
that  all  such  claims  on  them  are  cancelled  before  they 
leave  the  country.  They  are  expected  to  devise  their 
own  plans  for  paying  their  debts.  It  is  exceedingly 
desirable  that  candidates  should  owe  as  little  as  pos¬ 
sible.  Students  are  apt  to  run  in  debt  for  books,  but 
this  is  seldom  wise.  Nor  should  they  run  in  debt 
merely  because  they  have  friends  who  are  willing  to 
advance  them  money. 

XII.  Ordination. 

The  missionary  having  received  official  notice  of  his 
appointment  by  the  Committee,  it  is  left  with  himself 
and  his  friends,  or  with  the  ecclesiastical  body  with 
which  he  is  connected,  to  make  the  arrangements  for 
his  ordination.  Care  should  be  taken  that  the  time, 
place,  manner,  and  all  the  circumstances,  be  such  as 
to  give  no  just  cause  for  dissatisfaction  in  any  quarter, 
and  such  as  in  the  highest  degree  possible  to  promote 
the  cause  of  missions. 

XIIT.  Marriage. 

Good  health  is  very  important  in  the  wife  of  a  mis¬ 
sionary,  though  often  too  little  regarded  by  him  when 
about  making  an  engagement  with  a  view  to  mar¬ 
riage.  And  a  minister  does  not  more  need  intellectual 
and  moral  cultivation  and  cultivated  manners  in  a 
wife  at  home,  than  on  a  foreign  mission,  where  she  is 
almost  his  only  companion  and  adviser.  Early  en- 
2* 


18 


gagements  are  by  no  means  desirable.  They  are  not 
apt  to  be  as  judicious  as  when  formed  at  a  later  pe¬ 
riod.  Nor  is  it  well  to  defer  all  attention  to  the  sub¬ 
ject  till  the  eve  of  departure  from  the  country’-,  though 
many  excellent  wives  have  been  obtained  even  then. 
Parents  very  frequently  object  to  parting  with  their 
daughters,  when  it  is  first  proposed  to  them  ;  and  this 
will  be  the  case  until  they  shall  have  more  generally 
taken  this  contingency  into  view  while  consecrating 
their  infant  offspring  to  God.  If  the  objection  is 
founded  in  mere  feeling,  and  there  is  true  piety  in  the 
parents,  it  may  be  expected  to  yield  at  length  to  a 
calm,  judicious  presentation  of  the  subject.  For  ob¬ 
vious  and  weighty  reasons,  marriage  should  be  one  of 
the  last  preparatory  measures.  Where  the  missionary 
has  a  long  voyage  before  him,  it  should  in  no  case  take 
place  until  his  passage  is  engaged^  and  the  time  of  his 
departure  is  fixed  and  near.  Great  personal  inconven¬ 
ience  and  evils  have  been  experienced  by  missionaries 
from  doing  otherwise  than  is  here  suggested.  A  par¬ 
ticular  statement  of  the  reasons  for  the  course  here  re¬ 
commended,  would  satisfy  all  as  to  the  propriety  of  it. 

XIV.  Outfit. 

The  outfit  of  a  missionary  includes  the  clothing, 
bedding,  etc.  necessary  for  the  voyage  and  for  use  im¬ 
mediately  after  arrival  at  the  place  of  destination,  to¬ 
gether  with  a  select  private  library,  and  furniture  for 
housekeeping.  Most  of  the  furniture  should  ordinarily 
be  procured  in  the  country  to  which  the  missionary  is 
going.  If  it  resembles  the  furniture  used  by  the  na¬ 
tives,  so  much  the  better,  it  it  can  be  rendered  tolera¬ 
bly  convenient,  as  that  will  make  him  seem  less  a  for¬ 
eigner  and  his  house  more  agreeable.  Travelling  ex¬ 
penses  preparatory  to  embarkation,  and  the  cost  of 
passage,  are  not  included  in  outfit.  The  necessary 
expenses  for  outfit,  for  conveyance  to  the  field  of  la¬ 
bor,  and  for  such  travelling  expenses  previous  to  de* 
parture  as  shall  be  directed  or  authorised  by  the  Com¬ 
mittee,  will  be  paid  by  the  Board.  It  is,  however,  de¬ 
sirable  that  the  relatives  and  personal  friends  of  the 


19 


candidate  sliould,  so  far  as  they  are  able  and  disposed, 
aid  in  fnrnisbing  the  outfit.  It  will  increase  their  in¬ 
terest  in  the  mission,  and  relieve  the  Board  from  a  con¬ 
siderable  expense.  Of  course,  those  pious  parents,  who 
u'ould  have  aided  their  children  with  funds  to  commence 
house-keeping,  hcul  they  been  married  icith  a  view  to  re¬ 
siding  in  this  country,  will  not  icithhold  their  aid  because 
their  children  go  as  missionaries  to  the  heathen.  Why 
should  they  ? 

Collections  or  subscriptions  of  money  taken  up  at  a 
public  meeting,  or  out  of  the  circle  of  a  missionary’s 
personal  friends,  towards  his  outfit,  are  almost  always 
inexpedient,  and  often  injurious  in  the  end.  If  they 
are  ever  made,  the  sums  thus  raised  should  be  ac¬ 
counted  for  by  the  missionary  to  the  Treasurer  of  the 
Board,  as  so  much  cash  received  for  outfit.  In  like 
manner,  clothing  procured  in  this  way,  ought  to  be  ac¬ 
counted  for  to  the  Treasurer,  and  charged  as  a  part  of 
the  outfit.  Nor  should  a  missionary  afterwards  re¬ 
ceive,  in  any  instance,  a  full  allowance  from  the  treas- 
my  for  outfit,  if  friends  of  the  cause  have  already  con¬ 
tributed  money  or  clothing  for  that  purpose. 

Application  should  never  be  made  to  an  auxiliary 
society  for  aid  in  procuring  outfit,  nor  for  an  extra 
allowance  beyod  what  is  given  by  the  Board.  If  the 
allowance  made  by  the  Board  is  not  large  enough,  it 
ought  to  be  increased.  If  it  is  sufficient,  the  auxiliary 
ought  not  to  be  requested  to  enlarge  it.  Besides,  irreg¬ 
ularities  of  this  kind  would  lead  to  evils  without  end. 

Well  made  boxes,  of  the  medium  size,  are  more  con¬ 
venient  for  packing  clothing  than  trunks.*  The  boxes 
should  be  numbered,  and  a  list  made  of  every  article 
contained  in  each.  Things  to  be  used  on  the  voyage 
should  be  packed  separately,  and  marked  accordingly; 
and  every  thing  should  be  forwarded  to  the  place  of 
embarkation  in  such  season,  and  with  such  precautions 
to  prevent  a  failure,  that  they  shall  be  sure  of  arriving 
at  least  ten  days  before  the  time  of  embarkation. 


*  Where  the  boxes  are  to  be  transported  on  horses  any  considerable  dis¬ 
tance,  it  is  recommended  that  the  leiiftth  be  3  feet,  the  depth  I  foot  and  6 
inches,  and  the  breadth  1  foot  and  4  inches  ;  and  the  gross  weight  of  the  box, 
when  filled,  should  not  exceed  160  pounds. 


20 


By  the  rules  of  the  Board  no  married  missionary  can 
receive  more  than  666  dollars  for  outfit,  and  generally 
the  sum  actually  drawn  from  the  Treasury  has  fallen 
considerably  short  of  this  amount.  Missionaries  are 
sometimes  fitted  out  entirely  by  their  friends,  and  al¬ 
most  always  are  so  to  a  greater  or  less  extent. 

The  outfit  of  a  missionary  drawn  from  the  Treasury, 
is  not  regarded  as  private  property  in  the  same  abso¬ 
lute  sense  as  that  property  which  is  inherited,  or  pro¬ 
cured  by  personal  exertions  ;  but  is  regarded  as  in¬ 
trusted  to  the  missionary  for  the  specific  purpose  of 
being  used  in  the  missionary  work. 

Every  missionary,  knowing  a  few  facts,  and  exer¬ 
cising  some  thought  on  the  subject,  may  make  out  a 
satisfactory  list  of  outfit  for  himself  He  needs  to  know 
the  length  of  the  voyage — the  climates  he  is  to  pass 
through — that  bedding  is  not  furnished  by  the  ship — 
and  that  no  washing  is  done  at  sea.  He  can  then  cal¬ 
culate  what  he  will  need  at  sea,  and  his  wife  can  do 
the  same  for  herself  If  three  sheets  will  be  required 
for  two  weeks,  how  many  will  be  required  for  the 
voyage  ?  So  of  pillow-cases,  shirts,  etc.  etc.  The 
number  of  articles  used  on  the  voyage  should  be  as 
few  as  possible,  yet  sufficient,  with  a  few  extras  for 
sickness.  In  warm  weather  more  changes  will  be 
necessary  than  in  eold  weather.  Old  clothes  -should, 
be  taken  and  carefully  preserved  for  useon  the  voyage, 
and  after  entering  the  field.  The  mattress  will  gen¬ 
erally  be  procured  at  the  place  of  embarkation. 

In  determining  what  articles  of  clothing  shall  be  taken 
for  the  voyage  and  for  use  after  reaching  the  field,  pro¬ 
ceed  orderly,  beginning  with  the  outer  garment,  and 
note  down  how  many  will  be  needed — thick  and  thin, 
coarse  and  fine,  woolen,  cotton,  etc.  Thus  : — warm 
cloak  or  great  coat ;  coats  ;  pantaloons  ;  suspenders ; 
vests  ;  shirts  ;  collars ;  cravats  ;  stocks  ;  flannel  shirts ; 
drawers  ;  stockings  or  socks  ;  shoes  ;  boots  ;  overshoes  ; 
pocket  handkerchiefs;  hat;  caps;  watch,  with  extra 
crystals  and  keys;  penknives;  combs;  pencil  case  and 
leads ;  brushes  for  clothes,  flesh,  teeth,  hair,  and  shoes  ; 
umbrella  and  case ;  shaving  apparatus  ;  writing  appa¬ 
ratus  ;  bedding ;  towels.  A  lady  should  go  through 


21 


the  same  course  in  respect  to  her  clothing.  Shirts  for 
tropical  climates  should  usually  be  made  with  collars. 
The  seams  in  all  cases  should  be  very  strong,  as  the 
washing  will  often  be  by  beating  on  stones.  The 
amount  of  furniture  to  be  taken  must  be  determined 
by  the  locality  of  the  mission.  The  difierent  classes 
of  furniture  are  crockery,  glass,  wooden,  iron,  tin,  etc. 

As  a  general  rule,  the  articles  to  be  obtained  at  the 
place  of  the  missionary’s  residence,  are  those  which 
are  manufactured  by  the  needle.  Such  articles  are 
generally  better  made  among  friends,  than  those  which 
are  found  ready  made  in  cities.  Donations  in  stock¬ 
ings,  shoes,  etc.  should  also  be  thankfully  received, 
and  whatever  other  needful  articles  can  be  packed  in 
a  small  space.  But  bulky  articles,  and  also  heavy  ar¬ 
ticles,  unless  the  place  of  embarkation  is  near,  should 
be  procured  at  that  place,  the  freight  being  a  serious 
addition  to  the  first  cost  of  them.  Bring  a  list,  fairly 
written,  of  all  the  articles  obtained.  Clothing  should 
all  be  marked  with  the  name  of  the  owner. 

A  passport,  obtained  from  the  Secretary  of  State  at 
Washington,  is  indispensable  to  missionaries  going  to 
eastern  countries,  and  is  important  for  them  wherever 
they  go.  The  following  notice  relative  to  the  giving 
of  passports  to  citizens  of  the  United  States  designing 
to  visit  foreign  countries,  was  issued  from  the  Depart¬ 
ment  of  State  at  Washington,  April  4,  1835 ;  viz. 

“  .A g  citizens  of  the  United  States,  goinjr  to  foreign  countries,  may  be  sub¬ 
jected  to  inconvenience  for  the  want  of  sufficient  evidence  of  their  national 
character,  the  Secretary  of  State  deems  it  proper  to  give  notice,  that  Passports 
will  be  granted  by  him,  gratis,  to  such  citizens,  on  his  being  satisfied  that  they 
are  entitled  to  receive  them. 

“  To  prevent  delay  in  obtaining  a  Passport,  the  application  should  be  ac¬ 
companied  by  such  evidence  as  may  show  the  applicant  to  be  a  citizen  of  the 
United  States,  where  that  fact  is  not  already  known  to  the  Department  of 
State,  and  with  a  description  of  his  person,  embracing  the  following  particu¬ 
lars,  viz  : 

“Age,  —  years;  stature,  —  feet,  — inches;  forehead, — ;  eyes,  —  ;  nose, 
—  ;  mouth,  —  ;  chin,  —  ;  hair,  —  ;  complexion,  —  ;  face,  — . 

“  Where  the  applicant  is  to  be  accompanied  by  his  wife,  children,  or  ser¬ 
vants,  or  females  under  his  protection,  it  will  be  sufficient  to  state  the  names 
and  ages  of  such  persons,  and  their  relationship  to  the  applicant ;  as  one  Pass¬ 
port  may  serve  for  the  whole. 

“  Certificates  of  citizenship,  or  Passports,  granted  by  the  different  States  and 
municipal  authorities,  in  the  United  States,  are  not  recognized  by  the  officers 
of  foreign  Governments  ;  and,  for  the  want  of  necessary  official  information  as 
to  those  authorities,  the  Ministers  and  Consuls  of  the  United  States  in  foreign 
countries  cannot  authenticate  such  documents,” 


22 


The  certificate  of  a  Notary  Public  will  be  satisfac¬ 
tory  to  the  Secretary  of  State.  If  access  cannot  be 
had  to  a  Notary,  then  get  and  forward  to  Washington 
the  best  evidence  within  reach.  Tell  the  Secretary 
where  to  send  the  document.  Every  missionary 
should  attend  to  this  matter  for  himself,  at  an  early 
day  after  his  designation. 

The  missionary’s  should  be  eminently 

select.  Its  nature  should  depend  on  his  particular  pro¬ 
fession.  A  large  library  is  desirable  for  but  few  mis¬ 
sionaries.  In  some  countries  it  is  exceedingly  diffi¬ 
cult  to  preserve  books  from  the  ravages  of  insects. 
In  uncivilized  countries  they  will  be  exposed  to  nume¬ 
rous  casualties,  and  will  often  suffer  for  want  of  the 
care  it  is  impossible  to  render.  Should  it  happen  that 
necessary  books  are  not  taken  when  the  missionary 
goes  out,  they  can  be  sent  for.  A  mission  library  is 
gradually  being  formed  in  connection  with  the  several 
missions  of  the  Board.  A  medical  library,  under  the 
care  of  the  physicians,  forms  a  part  of  this. 

Missionaries,  previously  to  leaving  this  country,  or 
afterwards,  should  not  directly,  or  through  their  friends, 
order  books,  or  periodicals,  or  any  other  articles  to  be 
sent  to  them,  at  the  expense  of  the  Board,  without 
being  previously  authorized  to  do  so.  A  liberal  grant 
of  newspapers  and  periodicals  is  made  to  the  several 
missions  annually  by  the  Prudential  Committee. 

XV.  Farewell  Visits  to  Friends. 

It  is  not  wise  to  take  a  long  time  for  these.  Better 
for  the  health  of  the  missionary  and  his  wife,  and  for 
all  concerned,  that  they  should  be  short.  It  is  painful 
to  see  missionaries,  and  especially  their  wives,  come 
on  to  embark,  wearied  out,  and  perhaps  their  health 
materially  and  permanently  affected,  by  a  succession 
of  long-continued,  spirit-consuming  farewells.  Expe¬ 
rience  has  shown  that  short  visits  are  much  more 
satisfactory  in  the  end.  The  Committee,  however, 
aim  to  give  missionaries  as  early  notice  as  shall  be  in 
their  power  of  the  time  of  departure. 


23 


In  taking  leave  of  friends  aim,  in  the  spirit  of  Chris¬ 
tian  meekness  and  love,  to  exert  a  salutary  spiritual 
influence  upon  them.  You  are  probably  to  see  each 
other  no  more  in  this  world.  Leave  them  as  if  such 
were  your  expectation.  At  the  same  time  let  there  be 
no  worldly  sorrow.  The  Christian  missionary,  surely, 
ought  to  take  the  high  ground  of  an  immortal  being. 
You  and  your  Christian  friends  hope  to  meet  again. 
Let  the  thought  of  such  a  meeting  as  heaven  will  af¬ 
ford,  and  of  the  blessed  nature  of  the  work  which  calls 
you  abroad,  fill  your  minds  and  hearts,  and  throw  over 
your  deportment  when  bidding  adieu  to  earthly  friends 
a  holy  serenity  becoming  the  missionary  cause.  You 
are  not  driven  forth  by  any  stern  sense  of  duty,  but 
drawn  by  inclination.  This  parting  with  friends  for 
Christ,  and  from  love  to  the  souls  he  has  redeemed, 
is  a  privilege ;  and  so  is  this  leaving  of  native  land 
and  the  blessings  of  civilized  society.  While  you 
weep  you  will  rejoice,  and  may  it  be  with  a  joy  un¬ 
speakable  and  full  of  glory. 

The  missionary,  from  the  lime  of  his  appointment, 
should  be  Sure  and  keep  the  Secretary  who  has  the 
correspondence  with  him  informed  where  letters  will 
find  him  in  the  shortest  possible  time.  This  may  be 
of  great  importance  to  him,  as  his  designation  and  de¬ 
parture  may  by  various  means  be  unexpectedly  hasten¬ 
ed  or  delayed. 

XVI..  Departure  for  the  Field. 

Impatience  is  sometimes  manifested  by  missionaries 
to  depart  immediately  to  their  fields  of  labor ;  or  at 
least  to  know  definitely  at  what  time  their  departure 
may  be  expected.  This  should  be  suppressed  by  the 
reflection  that  numerous  circumstances  connected  with 
the  community  at  home,  the  Board,  the  mission,  and 
the  means  of  conveyance  to  it,  may  render  delay  una¬ 
voidable,  or  at  least  expedient.  In  respect  to  many 
missions  it  is  quite  impossible  to  tell  definitely,  a  length 
of  time  beforehand,  when  conveyance  to  them  may  be 
obtained.  Candidates  should  also  be  aware  that  the 
Committee  cannot  be  less  anxious  than  they  to  have 


24 


them  enter  their  respective  fields,  and  be  employed  in 
their  appropriate  work,  with  the  least  possible  delay. 

The  importance  of  having  it  known  at  the  Mission¬ 
ary  House  where  letters  will  be  sure  to  find  the  mis¬ 
sionary,  has  already  been  remarked.  This  informa¬ 
tion  should  be  kept  there  from  the  time  of  his  appoint¬ 
ment,  and  indeed  of  his  otfer  of  service. 

He  should  on  no  account  fail  of  being  at  the  place 
of  embarkation  on  the  day  appointed.  It  is  better  too 
to  reach  the  place  on  the  very  day  named,  than  sooner, 
as  he  will  not  be  expected  before  that  day,  and  may 
find  no  lodgings  provided  for  him,  and  the  officers  of 
the  Board  wholly  engaged  with  other  persons  or  things. 
The  perfection  of  punctuality  is  in  being  neither  be¬ 
fore  nor  after  the  time. 

At  the  place  of  embarkation  he  will  be  lodged  in 
private  families,  if  such  accommodations  can  be  con¬ 
veniently  obtained  ;  and  he  should  take  care  not  to  re¬ 
peat  the  mistake  which  some  have  made  on  first  en¬ 
tering  a  private  family,  of  supposing  themselves  in  a 
boarding-house.  Every  reasonable  attention  will  be 
given  by  these  hospitable  families  to  the  comfort  of  their 
guests,  but  it  should  be  received  as  a  favor,  not  required 
as  a  right.  By  no  means  encroach  upon  the  established 
order  of  the  family,  by  xmseasonable  hours,  morning, 
noon,  or  night ;  and  by  all  means  let  the  families  see 
that  their  hospitality  and  kindness  are  appreciated.  If 
it  is  found  necessary  for  any  cause,  to  procure  lodgings 
in  a  boarding-house,  it  will  usually  be  in  some  pious 
family  which  feels  interested  in  missions  and  mission¬ 
aries,  and  where  it  will  hardly  be  wise  for  the  mission¬ 
ary  and  his  wife  to  regard  themselves  as  mere  boarders. 
They  cannot  be  so  regarded  by  such  a  family ;  they  are 
rather  inmates,  objects  of  interest,  who  are  expected 
to  feel  and  manifest  an  interest  in  all  of  eveiy  name 
and  condition  who  love  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ.  It 
should  be  remembered,  too,  that  generally  in  such 
houses  there  are  more  or  less  pious  men  and  women 
residing,  who  are  the  friends  and  patrons  of  missions. 

The  Treasurer  and  Secretaries  will  be  found  muoli 
occupied  with  business.  The  missionary’s  chief  inter¬ 
course  will  be  with  the  Treasurer,  and  with  the  Secre- 


25 


tary  having  charge  of  the  correspondence  with  the 
mission  to  which  he  is  destined.  The  Secretary  will 
give  him  all  the  advice  necessary,  but  it  should  be  re¬ 
membered  that  he  has  probably  to  draw  up  the  in¬ 
structions  for  the  company  about  to  embark,  and  also 
to  write  by  the  vessel  in  which  that  company  sails  (in 
case  the  missionary  goes  beyond  sea)  to  all  the  mis¬ 
sions  in  that  part  of  the  world ;  and  these  letters  are 
often  long,  requiring  much  thought  and  care  in  their 
composition.  He  will,  however,  render  every  neces¬ 
sary  aid,  as  a  thing  of  course.  The  same  may  be  said 
of  the  Treasurer  and  of  the  other  Secretaries. 

A  competent  man  will  he  at  the  Ilouse,  whose  duty 
it  will  be  to  advise  the  missionaries,  if  it  be  necessary, 
in  the  purchase  of  the  remaining  articles  of  their  outfit ; 
and  if  necessary,  to  conduct  them  to  places  where 
these  articles  can  most  advantageously  be  had.  Be¬ 
nevolent  ladies,  also,  frequently  volunteer  to  assist  the 
females  of  the  mission  families  in  making  their  pur¬ 
chases,  and  in  otherwise  preparing  for  the  voyage. 
The  services  of  such  ladies  are  always  gratuitous,  re¬ 
sulting  from  their  deep  interest  in  the  cause.  In  pur¬ 
chasing  his  outfit,  every  missionary  must  judge  in  great 
measure  himself  as  to  his  own  wants  ;  and  it  is  for  him 
to  see  that  his  own  peculiar  habits  and  taste  are  suited. 
The  reflections,  which  have  sometimes  been  made  by 
missionaries  on  the  pious  merchants,  of  long  establish¬ 
ed  character,  in  our  cities,  to  whom  they  have  been 
recommended,  when  they  have  afterwards  discovered 
that  certain  better  and  cheaper  articles  were  purchased 
elsewhere,  have  generally  been  very  unjust — the  re¬ 
sult  of  some  misapprehension.  If  those,  who  rank 
among  the  best  men  in  the  world,  and  stand  above  all 
suspicion  where  they  are  best  known,  are  not  to  be 
trusted,  who  is  ? 

Experience  has  shown  that  it  is  best  for  missionaries 
to  be  assisted,  at  such  times,  only  so  far  as  is  neces¬ 
sary  to  enable  them  to  be  in  readiness  on  the  day  of 
embarkation.  They  come  on  five  or  ten  days  before 
the  time  of  sailing,  on  purpose  to  attend  to  this  very 
thing  ;  and  it  is  better,  on  all  accounts,  that  should 
purchase  the  articles,  and  pack  at  least  their  clothing 
3 


26 


and  bedding.  They  are  then  better  satisfied  with  the 
articles  and  with  the  packing,  and  they  kirow  where  to 
look  for  a  thing  when  they  want  it. 

A  full  and  accurate  account  should  be  kept  of  the 
manner  in  which  all  money  received  from  the  treasury 
of  the  Board  has  been  expended,  noting  particularly 
what  is  for  travelling  expenses,  and  what  for  outfit, 
and  an  abstract  of  these  expenses  should  be  given  to 
the  Treasurer  before  embarkation. 

An  invariable  rule  with  the  Committee  is  not  to  de¬ 
lay  a  ship  an  hour  beyond  the  time  appointed  for  sail¬ 
ing.  There  frequently  are  delays  ;  but  missionaries 
should  have  all  things  in  readiness  to  go  on  board 
when  the  appointed  time  comes,  and  expect  so  to  do. 

Public  instructions  are  not  always  given  to  mission¬ 
aries  on  leaving  the  countr}^  These  are  never  regard¬ 
ed  as  an  essential  part  of  the  preparations  for  a  mis¬ 
sion.  Yet  public  statements  of  plans  and  principles, 
on  occasion  of  the  departure  of  missionaries,  are  useful 
to  the  cause,  and  the  general  custom  will  no  doubt 
be  continued,  so  far  as  time,  health,  and  other  circum¬ 
stances  will  permit.  Shortly  before  embarkation,  the 
Prudential  Committee  and  other  officers  of  the  Board, 
with  their  wives,  are  accustomed  to  spend  a  few 
hours,  generally  in  the  evening,  in  familiarly  imparting 
hints  and  cautions  to  the  missionaries  respecting  their 
intercourse  with  each  other  and  the  ship’s  company 
during  the  voyage,  their  first  steps  on  arriving  at  the 
place  of  their  destination,  their  intercourse  with  their 
missionary  brethren,  their  correspondence  with  the 
officers  of  the  Board  and  with  their  friends,  etc.  etc. 
The  latter  part  of  the  evening  is  devoted  to  Christian 
acquaintance,  together  with  such  more  informal  con¬ 
versation  as  may  tend  to  promote  Christian  sympathy 
and  fellowship.  No  missionary,  male  or  female, 
should  fail  of  attending  this  meeting. 

The  ship  in  which  the  passage  is  engaged,  as  well 
as  the  accommodations  on  board,  will  be  as  good  as 
the  Committee  are  able  to  obtain.  Besides  the  ordi¬ 
nary  ship  stores,  the  Board  makes  the  necessary  extra 
provision  for  the  comfort  of  the  sick.  INIissionaries 
should  remember  their  calling,  and  not  requhe  too 


27 


much,  either  for  the  voyage,  or  after  having  entered 
their  fields  of  labor.  It  is  easy  to  expend  money,  and 
where  each  one  in  a  considerable  company  expends  a 
little  unnecessarily,  the  amount  of  the  needless  ex¬ 
penditure  may  be  great.  But  with  what  difficulty  is 
money  for  this  object  obtained  !  How  many  Christians 
give  only  one  quarter  of  a  dollar  in  a  whole  year ! 
When  tempted  to  expend  this  small  sum  unnecessa¬ 
rily,  think  of  that. 

Just  before  sailing,  it  is  usual  to  unite  in  a  prayer, 
and  in  the  singing  of  a  hymn  on  board  the  vessel — on 
deck,  if  the  weather  permits.  Friends  are  then  re¬ 
quested  to  leave  the  ship,  that  it  may  be  got  under 
way.  The  singing  of  a  farewell  hymn  by  the  mission¬ 
aries,  while  the  ship  is  falling  off  from  the  wharf,  is 
never  expedient.  The  crew  are  then  hurrying  to  all 
parts  of  the  vessel  to  set  the  sails,  and  the  singing  is 
necessarily  troublesome  and  annoying  to  the  pilot  and 
officers. 


XVn.  The  Yo^jage. 

The  following  memoranda  were  drawn  up  by  a  mis¬ 
sionary  at  the  close  of  the  third  long  voyage  he  had 
taken.  They  subsequently  received  the  formal  ap¬ 
proval  of  one  of  the  older  missions. 

“  1.  When  the  vessel  has  left  the  wharf  the  berths 
should  be  put  in  order  and  the  luggage  adjusted  as 
soon  as  possible,  to  be  in  readiness  for  sea-sickness. 
Missionaries  have  sometimes  stood  gazing  at  the  land 
and  other  objects,  or  conversing  with  each  other,  till 
sea-sickness  has  come  on,  and  they  have  then  been 
compelled  to  pass  several  days  in  circumstances  more 
unpleasant  than  can  easily  be  described. 

“  2.  As  soon  as  sea-sickness  is  past,  (if  there  are 
several  missionaries,)  a  few  general  rules  should  be 
made  concerning  the  time  and  manner  of  daily  wor¬ 
ship,  if  circumstances  will  allow  it ;  and  also  concern¬ 
ing  the  hours  for  study  or  reading,  and  for  social  inter¬ 
course.  Also  a  list  should  be  made  out  (if  there  is 
not  one  already)  of  all  the  articles  furnished  by  the 
Prudential  Committee,  or  by  the  friends  of  the  cause, 


28 


for  common  use,  comfort,  and  convenience  of  the  mis¬ 
sionary  company.  This  list  should  be  shewn  to  each 
individual,  and  the  time  and  manner  of  using  these 
things  he  determined.  Some  regulations  of  this  kind 
are  very  important  to  the  comfort  of  the  company,  nor 
should  the  making  of  them  he  delayed  longer  than  is 
necessary ;  and  when  once  made,  they  should  be  care¬ 
fully  observed  by  each  individual. 

“  3.  As  soon  as  sea-sickness  is  past,  missionaries 
begin  to  think  (as  they  should  do,)  about  worship  on 
the  Sabbath.  This  is  not  unfrequently  a  delicate  sub¬ 
ject  to  manage,  and  nothing  should  be  said  respecting 
it  to  the  captain,  or  to  any  person  on  board  ship,  till 
the  missionary  company  have  decided  upon  the  man¬ 
ner  in  which  it  shall  be  done.  For  this  purpose  some 
one  should  be  appointed  to  converse  with  the  captain, 
and  it  should  be  requested  as  a  favor,  and  not  as  a 
thing  confidently  expected.  The  subject  should  also 
be  mentioned  to  him  at  a  suitable  time — not  at  table, 
nor  in  the  presence  of  his  officers,  nor  of  any  other 
company,  but  when  he  is  alone. 

“4.  All  intercourse  with  the  crew  should  be  in 
strict  accordance  with  the  rules  of  the  ship,  one  of 
which  always  is,  that  no  passenger  is  to  speak  to  any 
sailor  while  the  latter  is  on  duty,  and  especially  not  to 
the  helmsman.  The  captain  should  be  requested  to 
communicate  to  passengers  the  regulations,  etc.  of  his 
vessel. 

“  5.  Never  interrupt  the  captain  or  any  officer  while 
taking  their  solar  or  lunar  observations,  or  while  en¬ 
gaged  in  calculating  their  reckoning.  If  they  appear 
quite  willing  to  tell  what  their  reckoning  is,  still  they 
should  not  be  asked  too  frequently,  as  this  is  vexa¬ 
tious,  and  quite  unnecessary,  if  each  missionary  will 
only  communicate  to  the  others  what  he  has  ascer¬ 
tained  on  this  subject.  If  the  captain  appears  unwil¬ 
ling  to  speak  about  his  reckoning,  then  no  inquiries 
should  be  made. 

“  6.  Be  careful  not  to  be  in  the  way  of  officers  or 
sailors  when  they  are  performing  any  evolutions  of  the 
vessel ;  and  in  rough  weather,  when  such  are  often  to 
be  performed  as  quick  as  possible,  and  both  officers 


29 


and  sailors  are  in  an  excited  state  of  mind,  passengers 
shoidd  remain  below.  The  windward  side  of  the 
rpiarter  deck  is  properly  the  captain’s  place,  and  should 
be  occupied  by  no  one  when  he  is  on  deck. 

“  7.  Be  careful  to  shew  due  respect  at  all  times  to 
the  captain  as  the  commander  of  the  ship.  Remem¬ 
ber  that,  like  the  commander  of  an  army  in  the  field, 
he  is  often  quite  a  different  man  on  board  his  own. 
vessel  from  what  he  is  in  the  scenes  of  social  life.  Be 
careful  also  to  shew  him  due  respect  as  the  master  of 
the  family.  Never  ask  for  any  thing  with  which  the 
table  is  not  furnished,  (salt  and  water  excepted,)  un¬ 
less  health  requires  it ;  and  then  it  is  commonly  better 
to  mention  it  beforehand  (with  the  reason  annexed) 
to  the  captain  or  steward.  Be  careful  not  to  make  too 
much  conversation  at  table,  on  subjects  which,  from 
their  nature,  are  unpleasant  to  him,  or  in  which,  from 
his  want  of  knowledge,  he  cannot  take  a  part. 

“  8.  A  part  of  the  time  on  the  passage  should  be 
devoted  to  acquiring  further  knowledge  of  the  history, 
state,  etc.  of  the  mission  or  place  to  which  they  are 
going.  Some  missionaries  have  made  many  unhappy 
mistakes,  and  suffered  much  in  various  ways  for  want 
of  knowledge  which  might  easily  have  been  acquired 
upon  their  passage. 

“  Every  missionary,  (whether  man  or  woman,)  who 
goes  abroad,  should  acquire  some  knowledge  of  the 
different  parts  of  the  ship,  as  their  names,  uses,  etc. ; 
also  of  the  philosophical  principles  on  which  a  ship  is 
constructed  and  managed  at  sea.  They  should  also 
acquire  some  knowledge  of  navigation,  as  the  manner 
of  taking  observations,  and  the  use  made  of  them  in 
calculating  longitude  and  latitude ;  the  manner  of  as¬ 
certaining  the  progress  of  the  ship  by  throwing  the 
log ;  al.so  of  keeping  the  log-book,  etc.  Such  knowl¬ 
edge  can  be  easily  acquired  during  their  passage,  if 
some  method  like  the  following  is  pursued.  Let  the 
missionary  company  agree  to  attend  to  these  subjects 
at  some  stated  limes,  as,  for  example,  once  every 
week.  At  such  times  let  each  one  communicate  to 
the  others  what  he  may  know  on  the  particular  subject 
in  question,  and  let  arrangements  be  made  for  obtain- 

3# 


30 


ing  further  information  for  the  next  meeting.  Cap¬ 
tains  are  not  generally  unwilling  to  shew  their  instru¬ 
ments,  to  explain  their  use,  etc.  as  far  as  will  be 
necessary  (if  the  plan  suggested  should  be  pursued) 
for  each  person  to  acquire  a  knowledge  of  the  subject 
above  referred  to.  But  they  will  very  likely  be  dis¬ 
pleased,  if  called  on  repeatedly  to  explain  the  same 
things  and  to  answer  the  same  inquiries  to  different 
individuals  of  the  same  company.  Every  company  of 
missionaries  should  have  a  system  of  navigation  for 
their  common  use.” 

Another  missionaiy,  of  equal  experience,  has  added 
the  following  hints  : 

“  1.  Never  find  fault  with  the  food  at  table,  nor 
complain  of  your  accommodations,  nor  of  the  ship  it¬ 
self  Commanders  of  vessels  are  exceedingly  sensi¬ 
tive  on  all  these  points. 

“  2.  Let  your  intercourse  with  the  sailors  be  under 
the  approbation  of  the  captain,  and  be  not  too  familiar, 
as  that  will  weaken  the  authority  of  the  commander, 
which  must  be  in  a  measure  despotic,  or  at  least  pa¬ 
ternal. 

“  3.  Let  your  ardent  zeal  (and  ardent  it  should 
be)  to  benefit  those  on  board,  be  directed  by  knowl¬ 
edge.  Study  times  and  seasons,  and  let  patience 
have  its  perfect  work.  Be  not  over  greedy,  even  of 
doing  good.  It  will  be  well  to  postpone  all  direct 
efforts  for  the  conversion  of  the  seamen,  until  the  good 
will  of  the  captain  and  officers  is  secured,  and  the 
ship  is  fairly  at  sea.  It  always  occupies  several  days 
to  get  things  in  ‘  sea  trim,’  as  it  is  termed ;  and  during 
this  time  nothing  should  be  attempted  with  the  sailors, 
and  perhaps  nothing  until  there  has  been  public  wor¬ 
ship  once  or  twice.” 


CONSTITUTION,  LAWS  AND  REGULATIONS 
OF  THE  AMERICAN  BOARD  OF  COMMIS¬ 
SIONERS  FOR  FOREIGN  MISSIONS. 


ACT  OF  INCORPORATION. 

COMMONWEALTH  OF  MASSACHUSETTS. 

In  the  year  of  our  Lord  One  Thousand  Eight  Hundred  and  Twelve ; 
An  Act  to  Incorporate  the  American  Board  of  Commissioners  for 
Foreign  Alissions. 

Whereas  William  Bartlet  and  others  have  been  associated 
under  the  name  of  the  American  Board  of  Commissioners  for  Foreign 
Missions,  for  the  purpose  of  propagating  the  gospel  in  heathen  lands, 
by  supporting  missionaries  and  diffusing  a  knowledge  of  the  holy 
Scriptures,  and  have  prayed  to  be  incorporated  in  order  more  eflect- 
ually  to  promote  the  laudable  object  of  their  association. 

Sec.  1  Be  it  enacted  by  the  Senate  and  House  of  Representatives  in 
General  Court  assembled.  a')id  by  the  authority  of  the  same,  That  Wil¬ 
liam  Bartlet,  Esq.,  and  Samuel  Spring,  D.  D.,  both  of  Newhury- 
port,  Joseph  Lyman,  D  D.,  of  Hatfield,  Jedidiaii  Morse,  D  D.,  of 
Charlestown,  Samuel  Worcester,  D  D.,  of  Salem,  the  Hon.  AVil- 
LiAM  Phillips,  Esq.,  of  Boston,  and  the  lion.  John  Hooker,  Esq., 
of  Springfield,  and  their  associates,  be,  and  they  hereby  are  incorpo¬ 
rated  and  made  a  bodv  politic  by  the  name  of  the  AMERICAN 
BOARD  OF  COMMISSIONERS  FOR  FOREIGN  MIS¬ 
SIONS,  and  by  that  name  may  sue  and  be  sued,  plead  and  be  im¬ 
pleaded,  appear,  prosecute,  and  defend,  to  final  judgment  and  execu¬ 
tion  ;  and  in  their  said  corporate  capacity,  they,  and  their  successors 
forever,  may  take,  receive,  have  and  hold  in  fee-simple  or  otherwise, 
lands,  tenements,  and  hereditaments,  by  gift,  grant,  devise,  or  other¬ 
wise,  not  exceeding  the  yearly  value  of  four  thousand  dollars  ;  and 
may  also  take  and  hold  by  donation,  bequest,  or  otherwise,  personal 
estate  to  an  amount,  the  yearly  income  of  which  shall  not  exceed  eight 
thousand  dollars  ;  so  that  the  estate  afore.said  shall  be  faithfully  appro¬ 
priated  to  the  purpose  and  object  aforesaid,  and  not  ^otherwise.  And 
the  said  corporation  shall  have  power  to  sell,  convey,  exchange,  or 
lease  all  or  any  part  of  their  lands,  tenements,  or  other  property  for  the 
benefit  of  their  funds,  and  may  have  a  common  seal  which  they  may 


32 


alter  or  renew  at  pleasure.  Provided,  however,  that  nothing  herein 
contained  shall  enable  the  said  corporation,  or  any  person  or  persons, 
as  trustees  for  or  for  the  use  of  said  corporation,  to  receive  and  hold 
any  gift,  grant,  legacy,  or  bequest,  heretofore  given  or  bequeathed  to 
any  person  in  trust  for  said  Board,  unless  such  person  or  persons, 
could  by  law  have  taken  and  holden  the  same,  if  this  act  had  not 
passed. 

Sec  2.  Be  it  farther  enacted,  That  the  said  Board  may  annually 
choose  from  among  themselves,  by  ballot,  a  President,  a  Vice  Presi¬ 
dent,  and  a  Prudential  Committee  ;  and,  also,  from  among  themselves 
or  others  a  Corresponding  Secretary,  a  Recording  Secretary,  a  Treas¬ 
urer,  an  Auditor,  and  such  other  officers  as  they  may  deem  expedient ; 
all  of  whom  shall  hold  their  offices  until  others  are  chosen  to  succeed 
them,  and  shall  have  such  powers  and  perform  such  duties  as  the  said 
Board  may  order  and  direct ;  and  in  case  of  vacancy  by  death,  resigna¬ 
tion,  or  otherwise,  the  vacancy  may  in  like  manner  be  filled  at  any 
legal  meeting  of  the  said  Board.  And  the  said  Treasurer  shall  give 
bond  with  sufficient  surety,  or  sureties,  in  the  judgment  of  the  Board, 
or  the  Prudential  Committee,  for  the  faithful  discharge  of  the  duties  of 
his  office. 

Sec.  3.  Beit  farther  enacted.  That  all  contracts,  and  deeds,  which 
the  said  Board  may  lawfully  make  and  execute,  signed  by  the  chair¬ 
man  of  the  said  Prudential  Committee,  and  countersigned  by  their 
clerk,  (whom  they  are  hereby  authorized  to  appoint,)  and  sealed  with 
the  common  seal  of  said  corporation,  shall  be  valid  in  law  to  all  intents 
and  purposes. 

Sec.  4.  Be  it  farther  enacted.  That  the  first  annual  meeting  of  the 
said  Board  shall  be  on  the  third  Wednesday  of  September  next,  at 
such  place  as  the  said  William  Bartlet  may  appoint,  and  the  present 
officers  of  said  Board  shall  continue  in  office  until  others  are  elected. 

Sec  5.  Be  it  farther  enacted.  That  the  said  Board,  at  the  first  an¬ 
nual  meetinar  aforesaid,  and  at  any  subsequent  annual  meeting,  may 
elect  by  ballot  any  suitable  persons  to  be  members  of  said  Board,  either 
to  supply  vacancies,  or  in  addition  to  their  present  number. 

Sec.  6.  Be  it  farther  enacted.  That  the  said  Board  shall  have  power 
to  make  such  bye-laws,  rules,  and  regulations,  for  calling  future  meet¬ 
ings  of  said  Board,  and  for  the  management  of  their  concerns,  as  they 
shall  deem  expedient ;  provided  the  same  are  not  repugnant  to  the  laws 
of  this  Commonwealth. 

Sec.  7.  Be  it  farther  enacted.  That  one  quarter  part  of  the  annual 
income  from  the  funds  of  said  Board  shall  be  faithfully  appropriated  to 
defray  the  expense  of  imparting  the  Holy  Scriptures  to  unevangelized 
nations  in  their  own  languages  :  Provided,  that  nothing  herein  con¬ 
tained  shall  be  so  construed  as  to  defeat  the  express  intentions  of  any 
testator  or  donor,  who  shall  give  or  bequeath  money  to  promote  the 
great  purposes  of  the  Board.  Provided,  also,  that  nothing  herein  con¬ 
tained  shall  be  so  construed  as  to  restrict  said  Board  from  appropriating 
more  than  one  quarter  of  said  income  to  translating  and  distributing 
the  Scriptures  whenever  they  shall  deem  it  advisable. 

Sec.  8.  Be  it  farther  enacted.  That  not  less  than  one  third  of  said 
Board  shall  at  all  times  be  composed  of  respectable  laymen;  and  that 
not  less  than  one  third  of  said  Board  shall  be  composed  of  respectable 
clergymen  ;  the  remaining  third  to  be  composed  of  characters  of  the 
same  description  whether  clergymen  or  laymen. 

Sec.  9.  Be  it  further  enacted.  That  the  Legislature  of  this  Com¬ 
monwealth  shall  at  any  time  have  the  right  to  inspect,  by  a  Committee 
of  their  own  body,  the  doings,  funds,  and  proceedings  of  the  said  Cor¬ 
poration,  and  may  at  their  pleasure  alter  or  annul  any  or  all  of  the 
powers  herein  granted. 


33 


In  the  House  of  Representatives,  June  Vith,  1S12.  This  bill  having 
had  three  several  readings,  passed  to  be  enacted. 

TIMOTHY  BIGELOW,  Speaker. 

In  the  Senate,  June  20</i,  1S12.  This  bill  having  had  two  readings, 
passed  to  be  enacted.  SAMUEL  DANA,  President. 

June  20i/i,  1812. — By  the  Governor,  Approved. 

CALEB  STRONG. 

Copy — Attest,  ALDEN  BRADFORD, 

Secretary  of  the  Commonwealth. 

N.  B. — The  Associates,  alluded  to  in  the  foregoing  act,  were  the 
lion  JoH.N  Treadwell,  LL.  D  ,  the  Rev.  Timothy  Dwight,  D.  D. 
LL.  D.,  President  of  Yale  College,  Gen.  .Tedidiah  Huntington,  and 
the  Rev.  Calvin  Chapin,  all  of  Connecticut. 


LAWS  AND  REGULATIONS  OP  THE  BOARD. 

I.  Object  of  the  Board. 

1.  The  object  of  the  Board  is,  to  propagate  the  gospel  among  une¬ 
vangelized  nations  and  communities,  by  means  of  preachers,  catechists, 
schoolmasters,  and  the  press. 

II.  Members  of  the  Board. 

2.  Corporate  Members.  The  Corporate  members  of  the  Board,  are 
those  who  have  the  right  of  voting  at  its  meetings.  These,  according 
to  the  Act  of  Incorporation,  must  be  elected  by  ballot,  and  only  at  the 
annual  meetings.  Not  less  than  one  third  of  the  corporate  members 
must  be  laymen. 

The  corporate  members,  besides  being  under  special  obligation  to 
attend  the  meetings  of  the  Board,  are  pledged  to  attend  the  anniver¬ 
sary  meetings  of  Auxiliary  Societies,  when  required  by  the  Prudential 
Committee,  as  a  Deputation  from  the  Board. 

3.  Corresponding  Members.  Clergymen  and  laymen,  residing  in 
distant  parts  of  the  United  States  and  in  foreign  lands,  may  be  elected 
by  ballot,  as  Corresponding  members  of  the  Board  ;  who,  though  it  be 
no  part  of  their  official  duty  to  attend  its  meetings,  or  take  part  in  its 
votes  or  resolutions,  yet,  when  occasionally  present,  may  assist  in  its 
deliberations,  and  by  communicating  information  and  in  other  ways, 
enlighten  its  course,  facilitate  its  operations,  and  promote  its  objects. 

4.  Honorary  Members.  Clergymen,  on  paying  fifty  dollars,  and 
other  persons,  on  paying  one  hundred  dollars,  at  any  one  time,  shall  be 
entitled  to  the  privilege  of  attending  the  meetings  of  the  Board,  and  of 
assisting  in  its  deliberations  as  honorary  members;  it  being  under¬ 
stood,  however,  that  the  right  of  voting  is  restricted,  by  the  charter,  to 
the  corporate  members. 


34 


5.  The  certificates  of  membership  for  corporate  members  shall  be 
signed  by  the  President  and  Recording  Secretary  of  the  Board ;  for 
corresponding  members,  by  the  Secretaries  for  correspondence  ;  and 
for  honorary  members,  by  the  Treasurer. 

III.  Officers  of  the  Board. 

6.  The  officers  of  the  Board  shall  be  a  President,  Vice  President, 
a  Prudential  Committee,  as  many  Secretaries  as  are  necessary,  a 
Treasurer,  and  two  Auditors.  These  shall  be  chosen  by  ballot,  and 
shall  hold  their  offices  until  others  are  appointed  to  succeed  them. 

7.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  President,  and  in  his  absence,  of  the 
Vice  President,  to  preside  at  each  meeting  of  the  Board,  and  to  per¬ 
form  such  official  acts,  either  during  the  session  of  the  Board,  or  at 
any  other  time,  as  shall  be  assigned  to  him  by  any  bye-law  or  vote  of 
the  Board  In  the  absence  of  both  the  President  and  Vice  President, 
the  meeting  shall  be  called  to  order  by  the  oldest  member  present, 
after  which  a  presiding  officer  shall  be  chosen  for  the  occasion. 

8.  The  Prudential  Committee  shall  consist  of  such  a  number  of 
members,  as  the  Board  from  time  to  time  shall  think  necessary ;  and 
three  of  the  members  shall  constitute  a  quorum  for  the  transaction  of 
business  ;  provided  such  a  notice  of  the  meeting  shall  have  been  given 
to  each  member,  ns  the  Committee  shall  direct  by  a  general  rule.  It 
shall  be  the  duty  of  the  Secretaries  and  Treasurer,  though  they  may 
not  be  members,  to  attend  its  meetings  at  the  request  of  the  Committee 
and  assist  in  its  deliberations. 

One  of  the  members  of  the  Committee,  or  one  of  the  Secretaries  of 
the  Board,  shall  be  appointed  clerk  of  the  Committee,  who  shall  keep 
a  full  record  of  their  doings,  and  sign  all  the'r  official  acts.  The 
records  above  described  shall  be  always  open  to  the  inspection  of  the 
Board . 

It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  Prudential  Committee  to  carry  into  effect 
all  resolutions  and  orders  of  the  Board,  the  execution  of  which  shall 
not  have  been  assigned  to  some  other  committee ; — to  cause  the  more 
inviting  fields  for  missionary  enterprize  to  be  explored,  if  necessary  ; — 
to  appoint  the  places  where  missions  shall  be  attempted,  and  to  deter¬ 
mine  the  scale  upon  which  they  shall  be  conducted,  and  to  superin¬ 
tend  them; — to  appoint,  instruct,  and  direct  all  the  missionaries  of  the 
Board  ; — to  prescribe  where  the  Treasurer  shall  deposit  the  moneys  of 
the  Board,  and  the  times  and  modes  of  investments  and  remittances  ; — 
to  draw  orders  authorizing  the  payment  of  moneys  from  the  treasury ; — 
to  ascertain  the  state  of  the  treasury  at  least  twice  a  year,  and  as  much 
oftener  as  they  see  cause ; — to  appoint  agents  at  home  and  abroad, 
with  such  powers  and  duties  as  they  may  think  are  demanded  by  the 
best  interests  of  missions ; — and,  generally,  to  perform  all  duties 
necessary,  in  their  opinion,  to  promote  the  objects  of  the  Board  ; 
provided  the  same  shall  not  be  contrary  to  any  resolution  or  bye-law 
of  the  Board,  nor  to  the  Act  of  Incorporation.  They  shall  annually 
elect  a  chairman  and  clerk,  the  former  of  whom  shall  keep  the  bond  of 
the  Treasurer. 

For  the  purpose  of  bringing  the  whole  annual  report  of  the  Pruden¬ 
tial  Committee  under  the  distinct  consideration  of  the  Board,  previous 
to  its  acceptance,  it  shall  be  prepared  in  such  a  form,  that,  on  present¬ 
ing  it  to  the  Board,  the  several  leading  parts  of  it  may  be  referred  to 
different  committees.  The  Prudential  Committee  shall  also  cause  to 
be  printed,  in  connection  with  their  annual  report,  an  abstract  of  the 
Treasurer's  accounts,  and  such  other  documents  as  they  judge  proper 
to  be  included  in  that  publication. 


35 


9.  The  number  of  Secretaries  shall  be  determined  by  the  Board, 
from  time  to  time,  in  view  of  the  exigencies  of  its  aflairs. 

The  Recording  Secretary  shall  keep  accurate  minutes  of  the  pro¬ 
ceedings  of  the  Board,  and  enter  the  same  in  a  book  of  records,  and 
certify  all  such  doings  of  the  Board  as  are  to  be  known  only  by  an  in¬ 
spection  of  the  records. 

The  other  Secretaries  shall  act  as  the  organs  of  the  Board  in  con¬ 
ducting  its  written  correspondence,  both  foreign  and  domestic,  except 
what  relates  immediately  to  the  Treasurer’s  department,  and  they 
shall  prepare  and  edit  its  official  publications,  and  perform  such  other 
duties  as  the  Board  or  the  Prudential  Committee  shall  particularly  di¬ 
rect  ;  dividing  the  appropriate  labors  of  their  department  among  them¬ 
selves,  under  the  advice  and  direction  of  the  Prudential  Committee. 

10.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  Treasurer  to  take  the  charge  of  all 
moneys  paid  into  the  treasury  of  the  Board,  and  to  give  receipts  there¬ 
for  ; — to  keep  safely  all  the  funds  and  moneys  of  the  Board,  and  all 
notes,  bonds,  deeds,  and  other  evidences  of  property  ; — to  keep  fair 
and  accurate  accounts  of  all  moneys  received  and  expended  ; — to  make 
out  annually  a  statement  of  receipts  and  payments,  and  of  the  condi¬ 
tion  of  the  several  permanent  funds,  for  the  information  of  the  Board  ; 
— to  invest  and  deposit  moneys,  and  make  remittances  and  payments, 
according  to  the  direction  of  the  Board,  or  of  the  Prudential  Commit¬ 
tee  ; — to  exhibit  his  books,  accounts,  vouchers,  and  evidences  of 
property,  whenever  required,  to  the  Board  or  the  Prudential  Com¬ 
mittee  ; — to  conduct  the  correspondence  relating  immediately  to  his 
department ;  and  perform  such  other  acts  as  are  necessary  to  the  faith¬ 
ful  execution  of  the  duties  of  his  office. 

11.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  Auditors  to  examine  the  books  of  the 
Treasurer  thoroughly  and  particularly,  at  least  once  a  year;  and,  if 
they  shall  find  the  accounts  correctly  kept  and  accurately  cast,  the 
paj'^ments  well  vouched,  the  balance  sati.sfactorily  staled  and  accounted 
for,  and  the  evidences  of  properly  duly  exhibited,  to  give  their  certifi¬ 
cate  accordingly  ;  which  certificate  they  shall  enter  at  large  in  the 
Treasurer’s  books,  and  deposit  a  duplicate  thereof  with  the  Recording 
Secretary',  to  be  by  him  entered  in  his  book  of  records. 

12.  In  addition  to  the  officers  above  named,  there  shall  be  a  certain 
number  of  General  Agents,  appointed  by  the  Prudential  Committee 
for  particular  districts  of  country  ;  whose  duty  it  shall  be,  within  their 
respective  fields,  to  co-operate  with  the  agents  of  other  societies,  with 
the  pastors  of  churches,  with  ecclesiastical  bodies,  with  the  officers  of 
the  Board  and  its  auxiliaries,  and  with  other  friends  of  missions,  in 
promoting  a  missionary  sjtirit.  and  in  drawing  out  the  resources  of  the 
Christian  community,  for  the  speedy  promulgation  of  the  gospel  through 
the  world.  The  General  Agents  shall  be  entitled  to  the  privileges  of 
honorary  members  of  the  Board. 

IV.  Meetings  of  the  Board. 

13.  The  annual  sessions  of  the  Board  shall  commence  on  the  Tues¬ 
day  preceding  the  second  Wednesday  of  September,  at  four  o’clock 
in  the  afternoon  ;  and  the  annual  sermon  before  the  Board  shall  be 
preached  on  the  evening  of  said  day. 

14.  If,  in  the  opinion  of  the  Prudential  Committee,  it  shall  at  any 
time  be  dangerous  to  the  health  of  the  members  of  the  Board,  or  on 
any  other  account  highly  inexpedient,  to  meet  at  the  place  appointed 
for  any  annual  meeting,  the  Prudential  Committee  are  authorized  to 
appoint  some  other  place  for  such  meeting,  by  sending  a  notice  of  such 


36 


change  to  at  least  six  of  the  religious  newspapers,  published  in  different 
parts  of  the  country,  and  also  a  printed  notice  to  each  corporate  mem¬ 
ber  of  the  Board. 

15.  The  number  of  Corporate  members  necessary  for  transacting 
business  at  any  regular  meeting  of  the  Board  shall  be  fifteen. 

16.  No  member,  who  shall  be  present  at  any  meeting,  shall  consider 
himself  at  liberty  to  leave,  until  he  shall  have  applied  to  the  Board  and 
obtained  permission  ;  and  members,  who  may  consider  it  necessary  to 
be  absent  during  any  part  of  a  session,  shall  be  expected  to  give  as 
early  notice  as  possible  of  their  contemplated  absence. 

17.  The  successive  daily  sessions  shall  each  be  opened  with  prayer. 

IS.  Committees  may  be  selected  from  each  of  the  three  classes  of 

members. 

19.  There  shall  be  an  annual  sermon  preached  before  the  Board  by 
a  person  appointed  at  a  previous  meeting.  A  second  preacher  shall  be 
appointed  to  preach  in  case  of  his  failure,  who  shall  be  first  on  the  list 
of  candidates  for  preacher  at  the  succeeding  anniversary.  Should 
both  be  prevented  from  preaching,  the  Prudential  Committee  are 
authorized  to  procure  a  preacher. 

20.  At  the  annual  meetings,  unless  peculiar  circumstances  should 
render  it  inexpedient,  the  Board  will  unite  with  their  fellow  Christians 
in  the  celebration  of  the  Lord’s  supper  ;  and  such  celebration  shall  take 
place  in  the  afternoon  of  the  third  day  of  the  session. 

21.  In  case  of  an  adjourned  meeting,  the  Recording  Secretary 
shall  give  suitable  notice  of  the  same  in  the  religious  newspapers. 

22.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  President,  or  in  case  of  his  death,  or 
inability,  of  the  Vice  President,  to  cause  a  special  meeting  to  be  called, 
through  the  Recording  Secretary,  or  one  of  the  other  Secretaries,  on 
the  written  application  of  the  Prudential  Committee,  or  any  seven 
other  members  of  the  Board.  The  time  of  holding  the  meeting  shall 
be  such,  as  the  officer  who  calls  the  meeting  shall  appoint ;  and  the 
place,  that  at  which  the  next  annual  meeting  is  appointed  to  be  held. 
On  receiving  an  application  as  above  described,  the  officer  to  whom 
the  same  is  directed,  shall  cause  a  seasonable  notice  of  the  time  and 
place  of  meeting  to  be  sent  to  each  member,  and  also  cause  a  notice  of 
the  same  to  be  inserted  in  at  least  six  of  the  religious  newspapers  pub¬ 
lished  in  diilerent  parts  of  the  country. 

V.  Missionaries  of  the  Board  and  their  Widows  and 

Children. 

23.  Every  person  received  by  the  Prudential  Committee  as  a  can¬ 
didate  for  missionary  service,  is  expected  to  hold  himself  at  the  direc¬ 
tion  of  the  Committee,  both  in  respect  to  the  field  of  his  fufure  labors, 
and  the  time  of  his  going  forth  ;  it  being  understood,  however,  that  his 
inclination,  as  well  as  his  particular,  qualifications  and  other  circum¬ 
stances,  shall  be  kindly  and  attentively  considered. 

24.  Applications  for  employment  as  missionaries  or  assistant  mis¬ 
sionaries,  must  be  made  to  the  Prudential  Committee,  who  shall  care¬ 
fully  inquire  into  the  character  and  qualifications  of  the  applicants, 
whether  males  or  females,  before  taking  them  under  the  patronage  of 
the  Board.  In  special  cases,  they  are  authorized  to  spend  money  in 
preparing  the  candidate  more  fully  for  the  service  assigned  him. 

25.  A  missionary  is  one,  who  has  been  ordained  a  minister  of  the 
gospel,  and  is  actually  under  the  direction  of  the  Board.  All  others, 
whether  licensed  preachers,  physicians,  schoolmasters,  printers,  etc., 
are  assistant  missionaries,  but,  in  the  Reports  of  the  Prudential  Com¬ 
mittee,  shall  generally  be  designated  by  their  specific  occupations. 


37 


26.  Whenever  any  missionary  or  assistant  missionary  has,  in  the 
judgment  of  the  Prudential  Committee,  violated  the  instructions  given 
him,  whether  before  or  after  entering  the  field  of  his  missionary  labors, 
or  has  failed  to  perforin  any  duty  reasonably  required  of  him,  they  are 
authorized  to  dismiss  him,  in  case  they  deem  it  expedient,  from  the 
service  of  the  Board.  In  all  cases,  however,  where  the  missionary  or 
assistant  missionary  has  actually  been  named  in  any  of  the  ofiicial  pub¬ 
lications  of  the  Board,  as  having  been  received  under  its  patronage 
and  direction,  the  individual  so  dismissed  shall  have  the  privilege  of 
submitting  his  case  to  the  revision  of  the  Board,  at  an  annual  meeting. 

27.  No  missionary  or  assistant  missionary  of  the  Board  shall  engage 
in  any  transactions  or  employments  yielding  pecuniary  profit,  without 
first  obtaining  the  consent  of  his  brethren  in  the  mission. 

28.  The  missionaries  and  assistant  missionaries  are  regarded  as 
having  an  equitable  claim  upon  the  churches,  in  whose  behalf  they  go 
among  the  heathen,  for  an  economical  support,  while  performing  their 
missionary  labors  ;  and  it  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  Board  to  see  that  a 
fair  and  equitable  allowance  is  made  to  them,  taking  into  view  their 
actual  circumstances  in  the  several  countries  where  they  reside. 

29.  When  any  missionary  or  assistant  missionary  of  the  Board  shall 
desire,  on  account  of  ill  health  or  any  other  cause,  to  return  to  the 
United  States,  he  is  required  to  obtain  permission  from  the  Prudential 
Committee  so  to  do,  when  it  is  practicable,  (always  sending  with  his 
request  the  opinion  of  his  mission,)  and  when  impracticable  to  obtain 
such  permission,  he  is  required  to  obtain  the  consent  of  his  mission, 
which  consent  shall  always  be  subject  to  the  revision  of  the  Pruden¬ 
tial  Committee. 

30.  When  missionaries  or  assistant  missionaries  return  home,  their 
connection  with  the  Board  shall  cease  as  soon  as  there  is  no  longer  a 
reasonable  probability  of  their  returning  to  their  missionary  labor. 

31.  When  superannuated  or  disabled  missionaries  or  assistant  mis¬ 
sionaries,  or  the  widows  of  missionaries  or  assistant  missionaries,  re¬ 
turn  to  this  oountry  with  the  approbation  of  the  Prudential  Committee, 
it  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  Committee  to  make  such  grants  towards 
their  support,  as  the  circumstances  of  each  case  shall  require,  and  as 
shall  best  comport  with  the  missionary  character  and  the  interests  of 
the  missionary  cause  ; — it  being  understood, 

(1.)  That  no  pensions  or  annuities  are  to  be  settled  on  any  person, 
and  that  no  grant  is  to  be  made,  except  in  extraordinary  cases,  for  any 
other  than  the  current  year. 

(2.)  That,  except  in  extraordinary  cases,  after  the  lapse  of  a  year 
from  their  return,  no  grant  is  to  be  made  to  returned  missionaries  or 
assistant  missionaries,  who  are  neither  superannuated,  nor  disabled  by 
sickness,  and  yet  are  not  expected  to  resume  their  missionary  labors. 

(3.)  That  missionaries  and  assistant  missionaries,  who  return  on 
account  of  sickness,  and  recover  their  health,  and  remain  in  this  coun¬ 
try,  are  no  longer  to  be  regarded  as  having  claims  upon  the  Board  for 
pecuniary  assistance. 

(4.)  That  missionaries  and  assistant  missionaries,  who  return  on  ac¬ 
count  of  sickness,  and  partially  recover  their  health  so  as  to  attend  to 
the  ordinary  business  of  life  for  a  number  of  years,  are  not  to  be  re¬ 
garded,  when  they  again  lose  their  health,  as  having  the  same  claims 
upon  the  Board,  as  they  had  when  they  first  arrived. 

32.  The  grants  made  to  returned  missionaries  and  assistant  mission¬ 
aries  shall,  in  all  ordinary  cases,  be  charged  to  the  missions  to  which 
they  last  belonged,  as  a  part  of  the  expenses  of  said  missions. 

4 


38 


33.  When  parents,  who  are  missionaries  or  assistant  missionaries  of 
the  Board,  are  desirous  of  sending  their  children  to  this  country  for 
education,  or  for  a  permanent  residence  unless  they  shall  be  qualified 
and  disposed  at  a  luture  time  to  engage  in  the  work  of  missions  among 
the  heathen,  the  Prudential  Committee,  at  their  discretion,  may  allow 
a  sum  adequate  to  defray  the  necessary  travelling  exjienses  of  the 
children  from  the  missions  with  which  their  parents  are  connected,  to 
the  place  where  the  children  are  to  be  educated  or  to  reside. 

34.  After  the  children  have  arrived  in  this  country,  the  Prudential 
Committee,  at  their  discretion,  may  allow,  for  a  buy.  an  annual  sum  not 
exceeding  lifty  dollars ; — the  allowance  not  to  be  continued  after  the 
child  is  eighteen  years  of  age,  and  the  whole  sum  allowed  for  any  one 
boy,  after  his  arrival  in  this  country,  not  to  exceed  three  hundred  dol¬ 
lars  :  and  for  a  an  annual  sum  not  exceeding  forty  dollars  ; — the 
allowance  not  to  be  continued  after  the  child  is  eighteen  years  of  age, 
and  the  whole  sum  allowed  I'or  any  one  girl,  alter  her  arrival  in  this 
country,  not  to  exceed  two  hundred  and  Ibrty  dollars. 

35.  In  ordinary  cases,  it  shall  be  presumed  that  a  child  does  not 
need  pecuniary  assistance,  when  no  application  is  made  to  the  Pruden¬ 
tial  Committee  for  such  assistance  by  the  parent  or  guardian  ;  and  the 
grants  shall  be  made  only  for  the  current  year,  and  not  without  reason 
to  believe  that  they  are  required  by  the  circumstances  of  the  children. 

36.  In  case  children  are  left  without  either  parent,  and  there  is  no 
missionary  family,  or  Christian  friend,  or  guardian,  by  whom  such 
children  could  be  well  taken  care  of  in  the  mission,  the  Board  will  then 
authorise  the  removal  of  the  children  to  this  country,  and  will  provide 
for  them  according  to  article  thirty-third. 

37.  The  allowances  made  on  account  of  the  children  of  living  mis¬ 
sionaries  or  assistant  missionaries  in  the  service  of  the  Board,  wherever 
the  children  may  be  educated,  shall  be  charged  to  the  mission  to  which 
the  parents  belong. 

3S.  The  allowance  made  on  account  of  orphan  children  shall,  in  or¬ 
dinary  cases,  be  charged  to  the  mission  to  which  the  parents  belonged 
at  the  time  of  their  decease. 

39.  The  Board  regard  it  as  not  consistent  with  the  multiplied  cares 
and  duties  of  the  Prudential  Committee,  for  them  to  undertake  the 
guardianship  of  the  children  of  missionaries  sent  to  this  country. 

VI.  The  Missions. 

40.  A  majority  of  missionaries  and  assistant  missionaries  in  any 
mission  shall,  in  their  regular  meetings,  decide  all  questions  that  may 
arise  in  regard  to  their  proceedings  and  conduct,  in  which  the  mission 
is  interested,  the  decisioii  being  subject  to  the  revision  of  the  Pruden¬ 
tial  Committee.  At  such  meetings  every  male  missionary  and  assistant 
missionary  present,  having  arrived  at  the  age  of  twenty-one  years,  is 
entitled  to  a  vote. 

41.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  Prudential  Committee  to  affix  a  limit 
to  the  annual  expenditures  of  each  mission. 

42.  The  rule  is  applicable  to  all  missionaries  and  agents  of  the 
Board,  that  real  estate  shall  not  be  purchased  at  the  expense  of  the 
Board,  nor  money  loaned  belonging  to  the  Board,  without  the  express 
permission  of  the  Prudential  Committee  previously  obtained. 

43.  In  general,  the  sole  object  of  the  printing  establishments  con¬ 
nected  with  the  missions  of  the  Board  shall  be  to  exert  a  direct  influ¬ 
ence  upon  the  surrounding  native  population  ;  and  no  mission,  or  mem¬ 
ber  of  a  mission,  may  print  any  letter,  tract,  or  appeal  at  these  estab¬ 
lishments,  at  the  e.xpense  of  the  Board,  with  a  view  to  its  being  sent  to 
individuals  or  communities  in  the  United  States. 


39 


VII.  Libeaey  op  the  Boaed,  Cueiosities,  etc. 

44.  The  Library  of  the  Board  shall  be  regarded  as  embracing  the 
books,  maps,  manuscripts,  pictures,  etc.  at  the  Missionary  House,  and 
all  the  books,  maps,  etc.  appropriated  to  the  use  of  the  several  mis¬ 
sions,  and  not  included  in  the  original  outlit  of  the  missionaries,  nor 
purchased  at  their  private  expense.  The  Library  at  the  Missionary 
House  shall  be  placed  in  charge  of  a  librarian  appointed  by  the  Pru¬ 
dential  Committee  ;  and  those  of  the  several  missions  shall  be  placed 
in  charge  of  a  librarian  appointed,  in  ordinary  cases,  by  the  mission 
itself,  who  shall  be  accountable  for  the  books  to  the  mission  and  to  the 
Prudential  Committee. 

45.  The  curiosities  deposited  in  the  Missionary  house,  and  consist¬ 
ing  of  idols  and  other  objects  of  superstition,  together  with  speci¬ 
mens  in  natural  history,  etc.,  interesting  on  account  of  their  being 
brought  from  countries  which  are  fields  for  missionary  exertion,  shall 
be  carefully  preserved,  arranged,  and  labelled,  and  kept  in  a  room  pro¬ 
vided  for  the  purpose,  under  the  direction  of  the  Prudential  Com¬ 
mittee. 

VIII.  Inteecouese  with  othee  Societies,  and  with  Eccle¬ 
siastical  Bodies. 

46.  A  friendly  intercourse  shall  be  maintained  with  other  protestant 
societies  in  this  and  other  lands,  which  are  engaged  in  the  benevolent 
design  of  propagating  the  gospel  of  Jesus  Christ. 

47.  The  Board  will  send  to  the  General  Assembly  of  the  Presbyte¬ 
rian  Church  of  the  United  States,  to  the  Synods  of  the  Reformed 
Dutch  and  German  Reformed  Churches,  and  to  the  several  General 
Associations  in  the  New  England  States,  as  many  copies  of  the  an¬ 
nual  Report  and  other  printed  documents,  as  shall  be  sufficient  to  fur¬ 
nish  those  bodies  with  the  means  of  information  with  regard  to  the 
state  and  necessities  of  the  Board,  its  operations,  and  the  success 
which  God  may  grant  to  its  exertions. 


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